EOR Report
EOR Report
EOR Report
Prepared for: Danish North Sea Partner Danish Energy Agency Mrsk Olie og Gas AS
Prepared by: Dr. Larry W. Lake Dr. Mark P. Walsh Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
2008
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There has been considerable enhanced oil recovery (EOR) activity in the North Sea. Eighteen of the 19 reported EOR projects have been gas processes. Most importantly, 16 of the 18 projects are economic successes. The outlook for EOR in the North Sea is promising. In a contract signed August 27, 2007, we were authorized to conduct an EOR literature search and carry out model development work. This contract was preceded by an proposal dated August 24, 2007, and entitled Proposal: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Field Data Literature Search. Not all reservoirs are amenable to EOR. Effective screening practices must be employed to identify suitable candidates. Economic evaluations require an estimate of the recovery performance. Empirical methods are invariably used to predict performance for early evaluations. The objective of our literature search was to collect enough field data to develop an empirical model to predict the oil-rate history of a prospect reservoir. Owing to past and current EOR trends in the North Sea, efforts focused on miscible gas EOR. We have successfully developed an EOR rate model. This model is based on hyperbolic decline curves and material balance. The model effectively matches the production history of tertiary miscible floods. The model can easily be incorporated into pre-existing discounted cash-flow models. The public literature is rich in EOR field data references. Over 390 papers were collected on 70 separate miscible gas projects. Our search sought rate history data with specific supplemental information. The process of gathering and analyzing papers was very timeconsuming but informative. In the end, seven case histories suitable for validating the empirical model were identified. All of the cases were onshore U.S. CO2 floods. Additional testing, however, is needed as new data becomes available. The model is simple enough to add such data. The work here also includes compiled sets of screening criteria from our literature search. The screening criteria are informative. In summary, the results of this work should be helpful in evaluating prospects for gas injection EOR.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Executive Summary Introduction Objectives Authority North Sea EOR Scope of Investigation EOR Methods Inventory of Papers EOR Rate Model Screening Criteria References Nomenclature Conversion Factors ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ............................................. ................................................ ................................................ .......................................... ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ................................................ ii 1 1 1 2 3 3 7 9 19 35 37 38 39
APPENDICES A B C D E Paper Inventory (pg. 40) Catalogue of Miscible-Flood Case Histories (pg.53) Supplemental Empirical Correlations (pg. 85) Estimating Incremental Recovery (pg. 90) Catalogue of EOR Screening Criteria (pg. 93)
ELECTRONIC ATTACHMENTS (on CD) A B C Excel File Containing Paper Inventory Paper Archive Portable Document Format (PDF) of Final Report
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INTRODUCTION
One definition of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is "the recovery of oil by injection of a fluid that is not native to the reservoir." EOR is a means to extend the productive life of an otherwise depleted and uneconomic oil field. It is usually practiced after recovery by other, less risky and more conventional methods, such as pressure depletion and waterflooding, have been exhausted. Not all reservoirs are amenable to EOR. Effective screening practices must be employed to identify suitable candidates. As part of the screening, discounted cash-flow projections are routinely performed to assess profitability. At the core of these projections is an estimate of recovery performance. In the initial screening studies, invariably, performance predictions from numerical simulation studies are not yet available. Therefore, other methodsusually empiricalare needed to estimate future performance.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this work are: 1. To carry out a current literature search for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) case histories (oil rate vs. time); 2. To document, categorize, and inventory the literature search; 3. To use the rate histories to develop a non-simulation (empirical) predictive model; 4. To carry out a current literature search for screening criteria for the different EOR processes; 5. To summarize the screening criteria for the different EOR methods; and 6. To submit an electronic archive of the literature search. The purpose of the predictive model is to provide an approximate method to estimate the rate history for candidate reservoirs. The model is intended for scoping or screening studies.
AUTHORITY
This report was authorized by Mr. Peter Helmer Steen, Director General, of the Danish North Sea Partner, Ministry of Transport and Energy. Mr. Steen was the project manager.
FAWAG = foam-assisted WAG SWAG = simultaneous water-and-gas injection * Ptincipally a gas-storage project. 1 Not currently operational (Damgaard, 2008). 2 In blowdown phase; not EOR project (Damgaard, 2008). 3 In EOR study phase (Damgaard, 2008).
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION
We originally proposed investigating chemical EOR methods in this work. Other EOR methods were omitted because they either lacked applicability for North Sea conditions or lacked general reliability. For example, we did not investigate steamflooding because North Sea reservoirs are too deep and above the pressure limits for successful application. Alkaline flooding was not included because it is considered a developing and unproven technology. There is a decided trend toward gas EOR in the North Sea (Awan, et al., 2006). Solvent EOR has been technically proven to be commercially successful worldwide. On the other hand, there has been no commercial chemical EOR activity in the North Sea, despite ongoing interest. Fayers et al. (1981) point out the difficulties in finding suitable polymers and low-cost surfactants for North Sea temperatures and salinities. Jensen et al. (2000) discount chemical EOR as a viable alternative in their study of Ekofisk. In addition, though there is substantial current interest, the worldwide commercial success with chemical EOR has been marginal. According to an Oil and Gas Journal (2006) report, the worldwide chemical EOR production is less than 15,000 barrels/day,1 with all of the production coming from only Chinese polymer floods, and no production from surfactant-polymer flooding. Recognizing these trends, we focused efforts on gas EOR. We will include qualitative descriptions of chemical EOR, in-situ combustion, electromagnetic heating, carbonated waterflooding, microbial EOR, and caustic/alkaline flooding.
EOR METHODS
All of currently available EOR is based on one or more of two principles: increasing the capillary number and/or lowering the mobility ratio, compared to their waterflood values. Increasing the capillary number means, practically speaking, reducing oil-water interfacial tension. The injectant mobility may be reduced by increasing water viscosity, reducing oil viscosity, reducing water permeability or all of the above. Using the nomenclature adopted by the Oil and Gas Journal, EOR processes are divided into four categories: thermal, gas, chemical, and other. Table 2 summarizes the main processes within each category. The processes are typically defined by the nature of their injected fluid. For instance, gas EOR includes hydrocarbon miscible/immiscible and CO2 miscible and immiscible processes. Gas EOR Methods These methods are capillary number increasing methods. They are also called solvent flooding, miscible-gas flooding or simply gas flooding. The injectant can be dry gas, enriched gas (hydrocarbon miscible), CO2, nitrogen or flue gas, or combinations of these.
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All units in this report are expressed in English or oilfield units. For conversion factors to SI or metric units, see the Conversion Factors section near the end of this report.
Solvent methods recovery oil by mass transfer. For some processes, the mass transfer of intermediate hydrocarbon components is from the crude to the solvent (vaporizing gas drive) and for others the transfer is from the solvent to the crude (condensing or rich gas drives). CO2, nitrogen or flue gas are vaporizing gas drives and hydrocarbon miscible drives are the latter. In all cases it is the intermediate component, the component that is doing the transferring, that is key. If the reservoir pressure is large enough (or if there is sufficient intermediate content at the current pressure), the mass transfer will result in a mixture that is miscible with the crude, in which case the predominant recovery mechanism is a miscible displacement. In a miscible displacement, interfacial tension vanishes and capillary number becomes infinite. Failing this, the displacement will be immiscible. Immiscible displacements are not as efficient as miscible displacements but may still recover oil by swelling, viscosity reduction or permeability increase, or pressure build up. CO2 and enriched hydrocarbons tend to be miscible solvents; nitrogen and flue gas tend to be immiscible. Miscible displacements in the laboratory result in nearly 100% ultimate oil recoveries. Field-scale displacements recover much less, primarily because the solvent tends to be more mobile that the oil/water mixtures they are displacing, which leads to bypassing of the solvent around or through the oil. Bypassing is the result of reservoir heterogeneity and viscous instability between two fluid fronts. Some types of heterogeneity can result in substantial mixing in the reservoir and a loss of miscibility. The bypassing can be eliminated or at least reduced by co-injection of water with the solvent (the WAG process), conducting the flood in a gravity stable mode and/or using foams to reduce the gas mobility. Most of the reported results have been on CO2 solvent flooding in the US wherein ultimate recoveries of 12% of the original oil in place and utilization factors of 10 MCF
solvent/incremental barrel of oil recovered are reported. These performances translate into chemical costs of 10-30 $/incremental bbl, depending on performance, and the cost of the solvent. Many potential CO2 injection projects are on hold because of the lack of solvent. Chemical EOR Methods These methods are increasing capillary number processes (micellar-polymer, caustic/alkaline) or mobility ratio processes (polymer). All are based on injecting one or more chemicals into a reservoir to bring about the aforementioned changes.
Polymer Flooding. Polymer methods consist of injecting an aqueous phase (water, or
brine) into which has been dissolved a small amount of a polymeric thickening agent. The thickening agent increases water viscosity and in some cases lowers the permeability to the phase to bring about the lowered mobility ratio. Polymer methods do not increase capillary number. Primarily because of its small cost, there have been more polymer floods done than any other type of EOR process. Unfortunately most of these were take advantage of an artificial taxing policy in the US and not to recover much incremental oil. With the lapsing of the policy and the collapse of the oil price in the mid 80s, these projects virtually disappeared, giving way to a variation of the process based on polymer gels. With the restoration of the oil price, interest has picked up, especially because of the significant reported successes in the Chinese Daqing Field. Polymer processes have historically recovered about 5% of the original oil in place and taken about 1 lbm of polymer to produce an incremental barrel.
Micellar-Polymer Flooding. Micellar-polymer processes are similar to polymer process
but with the addition of a surfactant to the injectant. The surfactant reduces oil-water interfacial tension making this process both a mobility ratio decreasing and a capillary number increasing process. This process virtually disappeared in the low price environment of the 80s but is experiencing revitalization, though as yet there are no current field projects. MP processes recover about 15% of the original oil in place, but there are not economical at oil prices less than about 30$/bbl.
Alkaline Flooding. Caustic/alkaline processes are an attempt to use the interfacial tension lowering properties of natural surfactants that exist in many crudes. A highly interesting innovation with this process is the use of a small amount of co-surfactant in the so-called alkaline surfactant process. Field experience is immature, but initial report suggest that incremental oil can be recovered for 20-25$/bbl.
Thermal EOR Methods Thermal methods lower mobility ratio by decreasing oil viscosity. Since the effect of temperature is especially pronounced for viscous crudes, these processes are normally applied to heavy crudes. This "niche" is actually quite large world wide, consisting of more in-place hydrocarbon than light crudes. An approximate classification of viscous crude oils based on reservoir conditions viscosity is as follows:
Besides being aimed at viscous crudes, thermal methods will be successful if there is a rigorous heat management procedure in place. This means that heat losses are to be minimized as much as possible. Heat loss sources are: 1. Losses to rock and water - minimized by restricting application to reservoirs with small water saturation, large porosities or small shale content. 2. Losses to surface equipment - normally the smallest heat loss source, this is minimized by insulating surface lines and minimizing line length. 3. Losses to wellbores - minimizing wellbore heat loss is done by restricting application to shallow reservoirs. Heat loss in this manner can be controlled by insulating downhole tubulars, generating heat down hole, using in-situ combustion, injecting the steam at high rate or evacuating the production casing. 4. Losses to adjacent strata - minimizing this form of heat loss means minimizing the producing life of the field (normally done with small well spacing) or restricting application to thin reservoirs.
Cyclic Steam Stimulation. CSS is also known as steam soak, or huff and puff. In this
process steam is injected into a well bore out to a heated radius of a few tens of meters. Then the original steam injector is converted to a producer and a mixture of steam, hot water, and oil produced. CSS is the most common steam injection process today. Most of the time most of the wells are producers: there are no dedicated injectors. CSS is often used as a precursor to steam drive discussed next.
Steam Drives. Also known as steam flooding, in this process steam is injected into
dedicated wells and the fluids driven to a separate set of producers. Combined CSS and steam drives often recover more than 50% of the original oil in place. This combination is the first commercial EOR process and has been so since the mid 50s. Perhaps more than 2 billion barrels of oil have been produced in this manner to date.
In-situ Combustion. This process is an attempt to extend thermal recovery technology
to deeper reservoirs and/ or more viscous crudes. In recent years it has become known as high-pressure air injection. In-situ combustion recovers 10-15% of the original oil in place.
INVENTORY OF PAPERS
The literature search was confined to papers dealing with gas-flood case histories and limited to papers in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) electronic library, with a few exceptions. We collected almost 400 papers. Appendix A shows a listing of the papers. The Excel file EOR_Paper_Inventory contains an electronic listing with additional information about the papers, such as SPE paper number, EOR method (hydrocarbon miscible, CO2 miscible, CO2 huff-n-puff, or immiscible), field, paper date, and whether the paper contained rate data or not. See Electronic Attachment A on the accompanying Compact Disc (CD).
The papers included over 130 different gas EOR projects, ranging from large-scale commercial projects to small-scale pilot projects, including immiscible and miscible projects. Table 3 lists most of the projects. The papers are in the Paper Archive, Electronic Attachment B on the accompanying Compact Disc (CD). The papers are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and can be read by the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. The paper archive is over 340 megabytes (MB) in size. The overall purpose the literature search was to identify useful field data for model development work. Specifically, we sought to locate as many solvent flood oil-rate
histories as possible. The next section describes the process of transforming the literature search into a useable database of case histories.
Field/Reservoir/Project Operator Commercial or pilot Injectant Country State/province Lithology Injection date History date Percent completed* Supporting information Co-mingled production Permeability, md Area, acres OOIP, STB Staggered development Percent OOIP recovered Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day
Wasson Denver Unit Shell Western Commercial CO2 USA Texas Dolomite 1984 1992 55 Unacceptable Yes 5 Not reported Not reported Yes Not reported 55,000 Not reported
Rangely Weber Sand Unit Chevron Commercial CO2 USA Colorado Sandstone 1986 1994 50 Unacceptable Yes Not reported Not reported Not reported Yes Not reported 30,000 33,000
Salt Creek ExxonMobil Commercial CO2 USA Texas Limestone 1993 2002 55 Good Yes Not reported Not reported Not reported Yes Not reported 19,000 30,000
Field/Reservoir/Project Operator Commercial or pilot Injectant Country State/province Lithology Injection date History date Percent completed* Supporting information Co-mingled production Permeability, md Area, acres OOIP, STB Staggered development Percent OOIP recovered Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day
Means San Andres Unit Exxon Commercial CO2 USA Texas Dolomite 1983 1987 25 Moderate Yes 9-25 14,328 Not reported No Not reported 7,500 NA
Slaughter Estate Unit Amoco Commercial CO2 USA Texas Dolomite 1984 1987 20 Moderate No 4.9 5,703 283 million No Not reported 7,000 Not reported
Wertz Tensleep Amoco Commercial CO2 USA Wyoming Sandstone Nov., 1986 1995 60 Good No 13 Not reported 172 million No 10.1 4,000 11,700
Sundown Slaughter Unit Texaco Commercial CO2 USA Texas Dolomite Jan., 1994 1996 17 Unacceptable No 5 8700 440 million No Not reported 3,000 Not reported
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Field/Reservoir/Project Operator Commercial or pilot Injectant Country State/province Lithology Injection date History date Percent completed* Supporting information Co-mingled production Permeability, md Area, acres OOIP, STB Staggered development Percent OOIP recovered Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day
Field/Reservoir/Project Operator Commercial or pilot Injectant Country State/province Lithology Injection date History date Percent completed* Supporting information Co-mingled production Permeability, md Area, acres OOIP, STB Staggered development Percent OOIP recovered Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day
West Sussex Unit Conoco Pilot CO2 USA Wyoming Sandstone December, 1982 1985 75 Good No 28 9.6 280,000 No 7.0 5 79
Maljamar Ninth Massive Zone Conoco Pilot CO2 USA Texas Dolomite/Sand. May, 1983 1992 100 Unacceptable No 18 5 Not reported No 10.1 5 25
Maljamar Sixth Zone Conoco Pilot CO2 USA Texas Dolomite/Sand. May, 1983 1992 100 Unacceptable No 18 5 Not reported No 17.6 8 20
Grannys Creek Field US DOE Pilot CO2 USA W. Virginia Sandstone June, 1976 1980 100 Unacceptable No 7 6.7 Not reported No Not reported 7 Never increased
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The checklist data items were divided into critical (an asterisk in Table 5) and non-critical groups. A checklist was completed for each solvent flood, paying special attention to the critical items. If the accumulated references for a subject flood did not ultimately provide the critical items, the flood was not considered further. For instance, if the flood references did not provide information about the projects injection rate, pore volume, or original oil in place (or this information could not be reasonably estimated), the flood was eliminated from further consideration. Several prominent floods were eliminated because a lack of data or anomalies. The following describes some of our experiences. The literature for some projects furnished rate data but failed to provide supporting critical data. This group included the Rangely Weber Sand Unit and Dollarhide. A majority of projects, also for instance, provided only very preliminary production data, such as production for only 1 or 2 years after solvent injection. The production history data was often terminated shortly after an initial oil response and before a peak oil rate was observed. This group of floods included the Sundown Slaughter Unit, Goldsmith, Hanford San Andres, and Weyburn. Though most of these floods have been completed or are very nearly completed, the public literature does not contain a complete record.
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Also, just having a fields complete rate history is not enough. It is critical to know certain operational aspects as will be illustrated below. Some of the larger floods were staged in their development. In a staged development one segment of the field would be flooded before another. Instead of reporting the production history for individual sections, operators would lump together all the production data and only report the performance of the entire field. The commingling of production data made meaningful analysis of the Salt Creek, Rangely Weber Sand, and Wasson Denver Unit difficult. Another complication occurred with the Means Unit miscible flood. This was a promising case with considerable information, but the operators implemented a large infill-drilling program coinciding with the miscible flood. It was impossible to distinguish the rate response to miscible flooding and infill drilling. The Ford Geraldine Unit flood was plagued by severe solvent supply deficiencies. Occasionally, the flood almost had to be shut down. This greatly affected the history and complicated interpretation. For instance, most tertiary miscible floods initially respond within a few months. At the Ford Geraldine Unit, however, the initial response was delayed over six years. While the flood was ultimately very successful, certain aspects of the rate history were anomalous. Consequently, the flood was eliminated from consideration. Another anomaly was the Rangely Weber Sand Unit. This prominent CO2 flood had significant injectivity loss. While injectivity loss is common in many solvent floods, it appeared to be worse than usual at Rangely. The lost injectivity resulted in significant rate losses that contributed to an attenuated oil response. (The fact that the flood was staged over 7 years and never covered the entire field also likely contributed.) Figure 1 shows the rate history for the Rangely flood. This history includes the produced oil and water rates. CO2 was injected in late 1986. Notice that the oil rate increased only about 10% over pre-flood levels; however, the produced water rate decreased significantly. The net result was that the produced oil cut increased significantly but the oil rate did not. Figure 2 confirms the oil cut response, as reported by the operators. The oil cut increased from about 5.8% to a peak cut of almost 9%. This peak oil cut is typical for most successful miscible floods; however, the rate response is atypical. Without injectivity loss, the data in Fig. 2 predicts the oil rate would have increased over 55%.
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Figure 1. Rangely Weber Sand Unit miscible-flood production history. The curve above the blue area is the produced water rate history; the curve above the light green area is the produced oil rate history; the curve above the dark green curve is the expected oil rate history if waterflooding was continued.
Figure 2. Rangely Weber Sand Unit oil cut history. The shaded gray region is the waterflood; the shaded green region is the CO2 flood.
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Considering the above, we were able to identify seven useable complete histories: the CO2 flood in the east side of the Twofreds field (Thrash, 1979; Flanders and DePauw, 1993; Kirkpatrick et al., 1985), the Lost Soldier CO2 flood (Brokmeyer et al., 1996), the Wertz CO2 flood (Kleinsteiber, 1990), the Slaughter Estate Unit (SEU) CO2 pilot (Rowe, 1982; Stein et al, 1992), the West Sussex Unit CO2 pilot (Holland, et al., 1986), the SARCOC Four-Pattern Area (4PA) CO2 flood (Langston, et al., 1988), and the SACROC Seventeen-Pattern Area (17PA) CO2 flood (Langston, et al., 1988). Coincidentally, all of the complete histories were CO2 floods and onshore projects. Five of the seven projects were commercial projects; the West Sussex Unit test was a pilot but used commercialscale well spacing. Table 6 constitutes the database for the modeling work.
Twofreds 2.0 6.00 26.7 33,700,000 15,400,000 2,300 104 10,000 0 754 40 15.8 14.8 4.4 15.8 28.0 0.18 46.2 1.18 1.5 26 0.0 20.0 0.3 0.35 0.43 4,322 0.6 17.4 0.01 0.28 1.25 21.36 427 0.047 0.179
Lost Soldier 2.0 1.91 13.7 299,000,000 240,000,000 2,800 158 80,000 60,000 11,000 10 11.2 44.3 24.4 10 31.0 0.10 10.0 1.12 1.38 2,500 1.0 16.0 0.2 0.47 0.52 101,789 2.5 10.8 0.02 0.24 1.70 8.05 129 0.124 0.261
Wertz 2.0 1.08 8.7 222,000,000 172,000,000 2,950 165 70,000 100,000 11,700 10 10.1 45.1 8.1 13.0 0.10 10.0 1.16 1.28 4,000 1.0 25.0 0.1 0.49 0.52 136,593 2.5 7.4 0.04 0.24 1.95 4.45 111 0.225 0.473
SEU pilot 13.0 2.50 8.4 864,000 642,400 2,200 105 600 250 159 3 30.8 39.3 29.9 19.6 6.0 0.12 8.1 1.23 2.00 50 1.0 32.0 0 0.34 0.44 514 9.7 30.9 0.24 0.54 1.82 4.61 147 0.217 0.554
* * * * * * * * * *
* *
Time of oilbank breakthrough, months Time of peak oil rate, years Life of miscible flood, years (estimated) Pore volume, RB OOIP, STB Ave. reservoir pressure, psia Ave reservoir temperature, oF Solvent injection rate, MSCF/day Water injection rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day Well spacing, acres Cum. tertiary recovery, % OOIP Pre-flood recovery, %OOIP Waterflood recovery, %OOIP Incremental EOR above waterflood, %OOIP Average permeability, md Porosity, fraction Initial water saturation, %PV Initial oil formation volume factor Oil viscosity at reservoir conditions, cp Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day WAG ratio DiEOR, %/year bEOR
Computed Data
Solvent compressibility factor Solvent formation vol. factor, RB/Mscf Characteristic rate, RB/day Pre-flood oil cut, % STB/RB Peak oil cut, % STB/RB tD2 tD3 tD4 Time constant (Vp/QT), years Dimensionless decline rate constant Scaled rate, PVI/yr Scaled rate, B/D/acre-ft
* Denotes critical data
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West Sussex 1.0 1.10 5.0 320,000 204,400 2,170 104 580 0 79 9.6 9.5 42.4 24.1 8.3 28.5 0.20 27.0 1.143 1.4 5 0.0 135 0.1 0.34 0.44 258 1.9 30.6 0.03 0.32 1.47 3.40 459 0.294 1.220
SACROC 4PA 2.5 1.25 9.0 53,900,000 27,900,000 2,800 130 13,600 21,000 3,400 40 14.4 52.8 17.5 10.2 3.0 0.04 0.22 1.51 0.35 800 3.0 47.0 0.2 0.43 0.46 27,205 2.9 12.5 0.04 0.23 1.66 5.43 255 0.184 0.153
SACROC 17PA 3.0 2.20 13.4 159,300,000 79,100,000 2,800 130 18,500 41,600 3,200 40 10.0 7.5 3.0 0.04 0.22 1.51 0.35 1,400 5.0 23.0 0.2 0.43 0.46 50,041 2.8 6.4 0.03 0.25 1.54 8.72 201 0.115 0.097
* * * * * * * * * *
* *
Time of oilbank breakthrough, months Time of peak oil rate, years Life of miscible flood, years (estimated) Pore volume, RB OOIP, STB Ave. reservoir pressure, psia Ave reservoir temperature, o F Solvent injection rate, MSCF/day Water injection rate, STB/day Peak oil rate, STB/day Well spacing, acres Cum. tertiary recovery, % OOIP Pre-flood recovery, %OOIP Waterflood recovery, %OOIP Incremental EOR above waterflood, %OOIP Average permeability, md Porosity, fraction Initial water saturation, %PV Initial oil formation volume factor Oil viscosity at reservoir conditions, cp Pre-flood oil rate, STB/day WAG ratio DiEOR, %/year bEOR
Computed Data
Solvent compressibility factor Solvent formation vol. factor, RB/Mscf Characteristic rate, RB/day Pre-flood oil cut, % STB/RB Peak oil cut, % STB/RB tD2 tD3 tD4 Time constant (Vp/QT), years Dimensionless decline rate constant Scaled rate, PVI/yr Scaled rate, B/D/acre-ft
* Denotes critical data
The Twofreds, Wertz, and Lost Soldier floods are discussed in the Model Applications section and will not be reviewed here. The Slaughter Estate Unit and West Sussex Unit pilots and the SACROC Four Pattern and Seventeen Pattern floods are discussed briefly below.
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Slaughter Estate Unit CO2 Pilot. Discovered in 1937, the Slaughter field is in west
Texas, USA. Amoco was named operator of the Slaughter Estate Unit in 1963 when waterflooding began. They conducted a CO2 pilot test in a 12-acre double five-spot area that was not previously waterflooded. The well spacing was only 3 acres. This case was unique in that it employed much smaller well spacing than all other cases in the database. The primary recovery in the pilot area was 9.6% of the OOIP. A pilot waterflood recovered 29.9% of the OOIP. Alternate injection of acid gas (72% CO2 and 28% H2S) and water began in August 1976. The WAG ratio was approximately 1. The cumulative tertiary oil recovery was 30.8%. The incremental oil recovery was 19.6%.
West Sussex Unit CO2 Pilot. Discovered in 1951, the West Sussex Shannon reservoir is
located in Wyoming, USA. Full-scale waterflooding began in 1959. The cumulative recovery from primary and secondary operations was 18.1 and 24.1%, respectively. Conoco conducted a CO2 pilot in a previously waterflooded portion of the field. Covering 9.6 acres, the waterflood was a diagonal half of an inverted five-spot (one injector and three producers). Though a pilot test, the well spacing was 9.6 acres and representative of field-scale spacing. Continuous CO2 injection started in December 1982. The pre-flood oil cut was 1%; the peak oil cut was 21%. The ultimate cumulative tertiary recovery was 9.5%.
SACROC Four-Pattern CO2 Flood. Discovered in 1948, the Kelly-Snyder field is last billion-barrel field found in the continental US. Located in west Texas, the field covered over 84,000 acres. Under solution-gas drive, primary recovery was 19% of the OOIP. In March 1953, the SACROC unit was formed to improve oil recovery from water injection.
In 1968, Chevron began studying the use of CO2 to improve recovery. The field was divided into three areas (phases). CO2 injection began in Phase 1 in January 1972. Before CO2 injection, Phase 1 was only marginally waterflooded; thus, this CO2 flood was considered a secondary recovery project. Pattern waterflooding began in 1972 in Phase 2 and in 1973 in Phase 3. In June 1981, CO2 injection began in a 600-acre area of Phase 3. This area consisted of three 160-acre inverted 9-spot patterns and one smaller irregular pattern. This area was called the Four-Pattern Area (4PA). The 4PA contained 22 wells, including 4 injectors. Before CO2 injection, the 4PA was thoroughly waterflooded. Chevron estimated an ultimate waterflood recovery of 21.7% of the OOIP. Alternate CO2 and water injection resulted in an estimated cumulative tertiary recovery of 14.4 % and an incremental recovery of 10.2%. The average WAG ratio was 3. The well spacing was 40 acres.
SACROC Seventeen-Pattern CO2 Flood. Chevron conducted a CO2 flood in another
area of Phase 3 of SACROC. This area covered over 2,700 acres and included 17 patterns and over 100 wells. The area was previously subject to pressure depletion and waterflooding before CO2 injection. Alternate CO2 and water injection began in May
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1981. Chevron used an average WAG ratio of 5. The ultimate incremental recovery was projected at 7.5% of the OOIP. The well spacing was 40 acres. The data items in the database were divided into two classes: primary and computed items. Primary items came directly from the case histories; in contrast, the computed items were derived from the primary items. Appendix B presents a catalogue of many of the rate histories we encountered in our literature search. Summary The purpose of the literature search was to identify field data for model development work. Our search was very specific. We sought complete or near-complete rate histories along with some very specific supplemental information. Initially, we identified about 59 miscible flooding projects with rate history data. This group included many projects or processes outside our scope of interest. Only 22 of these projects were significant enough for serious consideration. In the end, seven projects met our qualification criteria. Though we did not find as much useful data as we originally expected, the gathered data was sufficient for modeling. The modeling work is discussed in the next section.
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We first assume that ultimate recovery, expressed as a fraction of the original oil in place, for the solvent flood is known. This value changes over a fairly narrow range. Though the rate model in Fig. 3 is applied to only tertiary miscible flooding herein, it can approximate practically any primary, secondary, or tertiary recovery process, whether onshore or offshore. Therefore, the models range of applicability is quite wide. However, we note that the specific values of the parameters can vary widely. Model Equations Figure 4 defines the key oil rates and recoveries in the model. They include: (1) the peak EOR oil rate (qpeak), (2) the oil rate (q1) at the time (t1) solvent injection begins, (3) the oil rate (q2) at the time (t2) of the first oil response, and (4) the oil rate (q4) at termination. The key oil recoveries include: (1) the oil recovery (Np2) at the time (t2) of the first oil response, (2) the oil recovery (Np3) at the time (t3) of the peak oil rate, and (3) the oil recovery (Np4) at termination.
Oil Rates. The producing oil rate during the solvent flood is:
q(t ) =
qiWF
WF
(1a)
q(t ) = qpeak
(t t 2 ) q (t t 3 ) , (t 3 t 2 ) 2 (t 3 t 2 )
qpeak
EOR
(1b)
q(t ) =
[1 + bEORDiEOR (t t 3 )]1/ b
for t > t3
(1c)
20
Figure 4. Key oil rates and cumulative recovery parameters inthe EOR rate model.
where bWF and bEOR are the decline (Arps) exponents of the decline curves for the waterflood and solvent flood, respectively; DiWF and DiEOR are the initial decline rates of the decline curves for the waterflood and solvent flood, respectively; qiWF is the initial rate of the waterflood decline curve; and tiWF is the time corresponding to qiWF. The rates q1 and q2 are determined from the waterflood decline curve
q1 =
qiWF
WF
(2)
q2 =
WF
(3)
Oil Recovery. The oil recovery from the start of solvent flooding is
WF 1 qb 1 iWF Np (t ) = (b WF 1) , D iWF (1 b WF ) q( t ) (b WF 1) q1
(4a)
21
Np (t ) = Np 2 +
(t t 2 ) (q( t ) q ) , 2
2
EOR qb peak
(4b)
Np (t ) = Np 3 +
for t > t3
(4c)
(5)
Np 3 = Np 2 +
(t 3 t 2 ) (q
2
peak
+ q2 )
(6)
The recoveries in Eqs. (4) (6) are the cumulative oil recovered from the start of solvent injection.
Projected Waterflood Recovery. If waterflooding were hypothetically continued after t1 instead of switching to solvent injection, the projected or hypothetical oil rate would follow an extension of waterflood decline curve. Accordingly, the oil rate would be
q WF (t ) =
qiWF
WF
(7)
NpWF (t ) =
WF 1 qb 1 iWF (b WF 1) (b WF 1) , D iWF (1 b WF ) q q ( t ) 1 WF
for t > t1
(8)
Incremental Oil Recovery. The incremental oil recovery is the volume of oil recovered
Np (t ) = Np (t ) NpWF (t ) ,
for t > t1
(9)
For instance, if the cumulative oil recovery after solvent injection is 11 million barrels and the cumulative recovery from continued waterflooding is estimated at 1 million barrels, then incremental recovery is 10 million barrels.
Dimensionless Recovery Equation. Equation (4c) can be put in a dimensionless form
22
NpD = t D =
Np N Q T t Vp
(10)
(11)
DD =
D iEOR Vp QT qpeak QT
(12)
fopeak =
(13)
fo 2 =
q2 QT
(14)
where N is the OOIP, QT is a characteristic injection rate, t is an elapsed time (since the start of solvent injection), and Vp is the reservoir pore volume. DD represents a dimensionless decline-rate constant. The characteristic rate is defined
QT = B sQs + B w Q w
(11)
where Qs is the field (flooded area) injected solvent rate, expressed in surface volume per unit time (e.g., scf/day or sm3/day); Qw is the field (flooded area) injected water rate, expressed in surface volume per unit time; Bs is the solvent formation volume factor; and Bw is the water formation volume factor. Bs is measured at the average reservoir pressure and temperature. In the absence of data, we assume Bw = 1. For continuous solvent injection, Qw is zero; for alternate solvent-water injection, Qs and Qw are both non-zero. QT is injected fluid rate expressed in reservoir volume per unit time. The variables fopeak and fo2 represent effective oil cuts. The true oil cut is the produced oil rate normalized by the sum of the produced surface water and oil rates. In contrast, fopeak and fo2 are produced oil rates normalized by QT, which is expressed as a reservoir rate. Substituting Eq. (6) into Eq. (4c) and using the definitions from Eqs. (10) (14), Eq. (4c) becomes
NpD (t ) = Np 2D +
23
where Swi and Boi are the initial (at discovery) water saturation and oil formation volume factor and fo is the oil cut at arbitrary time t. The equation N = Vp(1-Swi)/Boi is used to help derive Eq. (15). Equation (15) also uses the following definitions:
t D3 =
Q T t 3 Vp Q T t 2 Vp Np 2 N
(16)
t D 2 =
(17)
N p 2D =
(18)
where t3 = t3 t1 and t2 = t2 t1. Equation (15) is a material balance on the produced oil. The variables tD2 and tD3 represent dimensionless times. Physically, tD2 is the pore volumes of fluid injected (PVI) at oil bank breakthrough; tD3 is the PVI at the peak oil rate. Their significance will be discussed later. Another important dimensionless timeone corresponding to project termination is
t D 4 =
Q T t 4 Vp
(19)
where tD4 is the PVI at termination and t4 = t4 t1. The variable tD4 represents the flood life expressed in PVI. Using tD4, Eq. (15) can be put into a slightly different form. If we evaluate Eq. (1c) at t = t4, cast the equation in dimensionless form, and then solve for DD, we obtain
(20)
where fo4 is the oil cut at time t4. fo4 is the oil cut at termination. It is a function of economic factors and is approximately 0.01-0.04. Substituting Eq. (20) into Eq. (15) gives
24
N p 4D = N p 2D +
1 (1 S wi )(1 b EOR
f 1 o 4 fopeak )
1bEOR
(21)
where Np4D is the dimensionless final cumulative recovery. Np4D is sometimes referred to as the recovery factor. Equation (21) can be solved for the peak oil cut, fopeak, if the remaining parameters in the equation are known or can be estimated. This equation can easily be solved using an iterative technique, such as Newtons method. Once fopeak is known, then the dimensionless decline-rate constant can be determined using Eq. (20). Then, the declinerate constant, DiEOR, can be determined using Eq. (12). Equation (21) is a central part of the solution procedure.
Summary of Model Parameters. The key model parameters are: t2, t3, t4, qpeak, q2,
DiEOR, bEOR, DiWF, and bWF. The remaining model parameters (tiWF, qiWF, and t1) are either known or arbitrarily selected. In the following section, we outline the procedure to estimate the parameters. Estimating Model Parameters We use different approaches to estimate the model parameters. The parameters t2, t3, t4, and bEOR are estimated using empirical correlations or guidelines. The guidelines are based on production trends from actual miscible floods. See Appendix C. The parameters DiWF, bWF, and q2 are estimated from a decline-curve analysis of the preceding waterflood. The model parameters qpeak and DiEOR are estimated based on material balance. The following discusses the procedures to estimate each parameter.
Parameters bWF, DiWF, and q2. The constants bWF and DiWF are determined from a conventional decline-curve analysis of the reservoirs waterflood rate history. This step obviously assumes that oil-rate data from the waterflood is available. Techniques to apply decline curves will not be reviewed here.
Once bWF and DiWF are determined, q2(t2) can then be determined from Eq. (3) once t2 is estimated. The method to estimate t2 is discussed momentarily. In many instances, the oil-rate history for the miscible flood will be insensitive to the values of DiWF and bWF because the time difference t2 t1 is negligible compared to the overall flood life and because q1 and q2 are small. If this applies, curve-fitting the waterflood rate history to determine DiWF and bWF is unnecessary. Instead, setting tiWF = t1 and qiWF = q1 and adopting any reasonable values for DiWF and bWF, such as bWF = 0
25
and DiWF = 30%/year is quite acceptable. If this simplification is adopted, then the future incremental oil recovery predicted by the decline curve is not possible.
Peak Oil-Rate Time, t3. t3 is the elapsed time from the start of solvent injection until
the peak oil rate. This time difference generally varies between 1 and 6 years. Appendix C shows that t3 correlates well with the time constant Vp/QT,
Vp t 3 = 0.295 Q T 0.337
(22)
where t3 and Vp/QT are expressed in years. The appendix shows a plot of t3 versus Vp/QT. This equation yields a standard error of 0.17 years (2 months) and an average error of 4.2%. Equation (22) is a convenient means to quickly estimate t3. As discussed in Appendix C, Eq. (22) implies that the injected fluid volumeexpressed in pore volume unitseffectively determines t3. The peak rate occurs at approximately tD3 0.26 pore volumes of fluid injected (PVI). The variable tD3 is defined as the PVI at the peak rate. This can be used as an alternative means to approximate t3. Accordingly, t3 is
Vp t 3 0.26 Q T
(23)
where consistent units are assumed. Appendix C discusses the effect of the tD3 on the oil rate history. Equation. (23) is an acceptable approximation for the cases reviewed.
Flood Life, t4. The time difference t4 is the flood life. The dimensional flood life
varies between approximately 8 and 27 years. Appendix C shows that t4 also correlates with the time constant according to
Vp t 4 = 1.07 Q T + 4.11
(24)
where t4 and Vp/QT are expressed in years. Appendix C shows that this equation yields a standard error of 0.91 years (11 months) and an average error of 4%. Since the time constant is invariably known, this equation gives a convenient means to quickly estimate t4. In terms of pore volumes of fluid injected, the flood life varies between approximately 1.25 and 1.95 PVI, i.e., 1.25 < tD4 < 1.95, where tD4 represents the dimensionless flood
26
life. Selecting t4 based on an average value tD4 = 1.5 often yields reasonable results. Appendix C discusses this approximation, including its error, in greater detail. The dimensionless flood life predicted by Eq. (24) is based on field data from U.S. onshore tertiary CO2 floods. Since the expense of offshore operations is greater than onshore operations, the offshore operations will likely terminate before onshore operations, all other things equal. Thus, offshore operations may terminate at dimensionless flood life nearer to 1.25 than 1.95 PVI. The effect of operating costs on the economic limit and profitability is an economic issue and is ultimately investigated by coupling the rate model (using an approximate dimensionless flood life, e.g., 1.5 PVI) with a cash-flow projection. The dimensionless flood life predicted by Eq. (24) is very similar to what is observed for waterfloods. For instance, Guerrero and Earlougher (1961) observed that waterflood life usually ranges between 1.25 and 1.7 PVI. The range of scaled rates for miscible flooding approximately agrees with the range in waterflooding. Several investigators (Riley, 1964; Guerrero and Earlougher, 1961; and Bush and Helander, 1968), for instance, have reported that the scaled rate for a waterflood usually falls between 0.10 and 0.30 PVI/year, a surprisingly narrow range. The narrow range probably occurs because of economics. Rates below than the lower limit usually do not occur because they are uneconomic. Rates greater than the upper limit don't occur because they permit larger well spacing and lower drilling expenditures. Because the range for waterflooding is relatively narrow, Willhite (1986) simply recommends using a generic value of 0.28 PVI/year when only approximate estimates are required. The preceding remarks may be useful to develop quick estimates of the time constant for miscible-flood scoping studies.
Oil Bank Breakthrough Time, t2. The time difference t2 is the elapsed time from the
start of solvent injection until oil bank breakthrough (BT). t2 is very shortbetween 1 and 3 months, or 1 month < t2 < 3 months.
This range implies a very quick oil response to solvent injection. Because t2 is very short, its effect on recovery is minor. Because its range is narrow, selecting any value within the range is acceptable. Once t2 is determined, t2 is determined from t2 = t2 + t1. In terms of the pore volumes of fluid injected, the range of oil bank breakthrough times is 1 < tD2 < 4%. The preceding guidelines have been validated for well spacing greater than 10 acres Therefore, they should be used carefully for well spacing less than 10 acres. Because the well spacing in most commercial projects greater than 10 acres, this is not a serious limitation. See Appendix C for a brief discussion of the performance of small pilot tests.
Decline Exponent, bEOR. Based on our analysis of field data, we have observed that 0 <
27
Recall, bEOR = 0 is an exponential decline. Many solvent floods approach or fit an exponential decline. The difference between bEOR = 0 and bEOR = 0.3 on the rate history is small. Thus, assuming an exponential decline is not a poor assumption. The average value of bEOR for commercial floods was 0.20. Thus, selecting bEOR = 0.2 is reasonable The effect of increasing bEOR is to increase qpeak and DiEOR.
Peak Oil rate, qpeak. The peak oil rate qpeak is an important parameter affecting the
recovery and controlling the shape of the rate history. The dimensionless peak oil cut, fopeak, effectively describes qpeak. fopeak varies between 7 and 31% for successful solvent floods, including pilots. For commercial floods, the range is narrower and lower, typically between 7 and 20%. These ranges are not drastically smaller than for waterfloods. Bush and Helander (1968) noted that the 51% of the waterfloods experienced a peak oil rate between 12 and 31%, where the peak rate is expressed as a fraction of the water injection rate. The average for all waterfloods was 22%. The peak oil rate is estimated using Eq. (21), the produced oil mass balance equation. This equation is first solved for fopeak, and then qpeak is determined using Eq. (13). This approach assumes all the remaining parameters in Eq. (21) can be estimated, including the recovery factor. The recovery ER factor is normally estimated as described in Appendix D . All of the remaining parameters can usually be estimated. For instance, fo4, the oil cut at the economic limit, depends on economic factors; it typically varies between 1 and 4%. Our approach to use material balance to estimate the peak oil rate is very similar to Willhites (1986) approach in applying the Bush-Helander model to waterflood. Willhite showed that this approach yielded reasonable estimates of the peak rate.
Decline-Rate Constant, DiEOR. The decline-rate constant DiEOR is determined from Eqs.
(20) and (12). Equation (20) is first used to determine the dimensionless decline-rate constant DD. This equation is a function of the peak rate; thus, the peak rate must first be determined before using this equation. Then, Eq. (12) is used to compute DiEOR. DiEOR often falls between 15 and 40% per year. This range roughly agrees with the range observed for waterfloods. For instance, Bush and Helander (1968) observed that 70% of studied waterfloods experienced a decline-rate constant between 20 and 55% per year. analysis of the preceding waterflood. The parameters t2, t3, t4, and bEOR are determined from empirical guidelines. The parameter q2(t2) is determined from a decline curve analysis of the waterflood after t2 is determined. The parameters qpeak and DiEOR are determined from Eq. (21), a mass balance on the produced oil.
Summary. In summary, bWF, DiWF, qiWF, and tiWF are determined from a decline curve
28
For a quick approximation, reasonable rate predictions can often be obtained by simply assuming tD2 = 0.02, tD3 = 0.26, tD4 = 1.50, bEOR = 0.2 and then computing t2, t3, and t4 from Eqs. (16), (17), and (19). See Appendix C for a greater discussion of this approximation. Model Applications This section presents the results of three model applications: (1) the Twofreds CO2 flood, (2) the Lost Soldier CO2 flood, and (3) the Wertz CO2 flood.
Example 1: Twofreds CO2 Flood. The Twofreds (Delaware) field is located in west
Texas, USA. Discovered in 1957, the field was produced under pressure depletion (10.4% estimated ultimate recovery) until 1963, and then under waterflood until February 1974. Then, continuous CO2 injection began on the east side of the field. Eventually, the CO2 was chased with alternate injection of exhaust gas (84% nitrogen) and water. The Twofreds project was the first field-scale tertiary CO2 flood in a sandstone reservoir in Texas. The field was owned by HNG Fossil Fuels Co, Transpetco Engineering of the Southwest, and Murphy Oil Co. The OOIP on the east side of field was 15.4 MM STB. The producing oil cut before CO2 injection was about 1%. Within 2-4 months after CO2 injection, the oil rate began to increase. The oil cut peaked at about 17.7% after six years. The operators reported a cumulative recovery of about 15.8% of the OOIP through June 1, 1993. Figure 5 shows the oil rate history on semi-log coordinates. The gray region is the waterflood response; the green region denotes the CO2 flood.
29
Table 7. Model parameters for applications. Value Lost Soldier 240 299 101,800 1.12 10 11.2 2.3 0.02 0.24 1.7 1.9 2.0 12.7 1/1/1988 2900 0.50 40 0.20
Parameter OOIP, MMSTB Pore volume, MMRB Injection rate, RB/day Initial formation vol. factor, RB/STB Initial water saturation, % ER, % Terminal oil cut, % tD2 tD3 tD4 t2, mo. t3, yrs t4, yrs tiWF qiWF, STB/day bWF DiWF, %/year biEOR
Twofreds 15.4 33.7 4,322 1.18 46.2 17.2 1 0.025 0.28 1.25 6 6.0 27.9 1/1/1969 450 0.10 70 0.30
Wertz 172 222 136,000 1.16 10 10.1 1.3 0.03 0.24 1.95 1.6. 1.0 8.9 1/1/1985 6200 0.01 30 0.10
Table 7 summarizes the model parameters. The yellow curve in Fig. 5 shows the predicted rate history. The model yields a good match of the actual history. The operators reported an actual recovery of 15.8% OOIP through June 1, 1993. The model predicted a recovery of 16.1%. Carbon dioxide injection into the west side of Twofreds did not begin until 1980. This example shows that the EOR rate model can effectively model cases where different areas of a field are developed at different times. The only requirement, however, is that the model must be applied sequentially rather than globally.
Example 2: Lost Soldier CO2 Flood. The Lost Soldier Tensleep reservoir is located in
Wyoming, USA. The reservoir was discovered in 1930. Primary production continued until 1962 when peripheral water injection began. Pattern waterflooding began in 1976. Alternate CO2 and water injection began in July, 1989. The flood was operated by Amoco Production Co.
30
The OOIP at Lost Soldier Tensleep was 240 MM STB. The producing oil cut before CO2 injection was approximately 2.5%. Oil bank breakthrough occurred within a few months. A peak oil cut of about 11% was realized after about 23 months. The operators reported an incremental oil recovery of 5.7% through January 1, 1996. They projected an ultimate cumulative recovery of 11.2%. Figure 6 shows the oil rate history on Cartesian coordinates. The gray region denotes the waterflood; the green region the CO2 flood. The waterflood was projected to recovery an additional 1% OOIP between the time of CO2 injection and termination. Table 7 summarizes the model parameters. The yellow curve in Fig. 6 shows the predicted rate history. The model yields a good match of the actual rate history. The operators estimated an ultimate cumulative recovery of 11.2% OOIP. The model predicted an ultimate cumulative recovery of 10.9%.
Example 3: Wertz CO2 Flood. The Wertz Tensleep reservoir is located in Wyoming,
USA. The reservoir was discovered in 1936. Primary production was from a combination of fluid expansion and water influx. A pilot waterflood was carried out in 1978, and pattern waterflood was installed field wide in 1980. Waterflood performance was enhanced with infill drilling between 1982 and 1986. Alternate CO2 and water injection began in November, 1986. The flood was operated by Amoco Production Co.
31
The OOIP at Wertz Tensleep was 172 MM STB. The producing oil cut prior to CO2 injection was approximately 3.3%. Oil bank breakthrough occurred within a few months. A peak oil cut of about 10.2% was realized after about 13 months. The operators reported a cumulative recovery of 10.1% through January 1, 1996. The producing oil cut was less than 2%. Figure 7 shows the oil rate history on Cartesian coordinates. The gray region denotes the waterflood; the green region the CO2 flood. The red curve shows the projected waterflood decline. The waterflood was projected to recovery an additional 2.4% OOIP between the time of CO2 injection and termination. Table 7 summarizes the model parameters. The yellow curve in Fig. 7 shows the predicted rate history. The model matches the actual rate history. The operators reported a cumulative recovery of 10.1% OOIP on Jan. 1, 1996. The model predicted a cumulative recovery of 10.3%. Conclusions. The preceding examples show excellent agreement between model and actual results. Similar agreement was noted in the other commercial field cases (West Sussex, SACROC 4PA, and SACROC 17PA). These cases are not shown for the sake of brevity. The results in the preceding examples are not a stringent test of the model inasmuch as its correlations were based on the data from these cases. The model results for the last three cases, however, are a more severe test of the model inasmuch as none of the field data
32
from these cases was used to develop the model correlations. Thus, these latter cases truly represent model predictions. The West Sussex results are an especially severe test of the model because its rate response was very unusual in two respects. First, its peak oil cut was 31%; substantially greater than the peak oil cut for all the other commercial cases, which varied between 6 and 17%. Second, its decline rate constant (135% per year) was much larger than that for the other cases. Despite these differences, the rate model still matched this case very well. The repeated success of the model helps validate it. The success is largely attributed to the accuracy of the t3 and t4 correlations. Model Limitations The model proposed here is a reasonable approach to empirically estimate the oil rate history of a tertiary miscible flood. It is similar to the Bush-Helander model for waterflooding. We have illustrated the models ability to match and predict the oil rate of tertiary miscible floods. Our success is reminiscent of Willhites (1986) in applying the Bush-Helander model. Though we have enjoyed success with the model, we have encountered and do recognize certain limitations. First, the correlations used to estimate model parameters t3 and t4two very important parametersare based on only six or seven field cases. On one hand, this is not very many field cases. On the other hand, the existing field data spans the entire expected range of time constants and the correlations yield very realistic predictions. Also, based on physical reasoning and our experience, we do not expect for tD3 and tD4 to fall outside of the range of existing data for new data. For example, we do not expect to find many solvent floods whose life is less than 1.25 or greater than 1.95 PVI. Nevertheless, the lack of data represents a limitation and we believe testing against more data is required. Second, the model implicitly assumes a constant injection rate. This assumption is reasonable for many, but not all miscible floods. Some floods, such as Rangely, experience injectivity losses. This dramatic change has serious consequences on the oil rate. The current model cannot adequately treat this group of floods. The model will over-accelerate recovery and will over-estimate the producing oil rate. To treat these cases, the model must be modified for variable injection rates. It is questionable, however, whether this modification is really needed because injectivity is not reliably predictable. Third, the model assumes the entire field is instantaneously converted to miscible flooding. In reality, a staggered development is sometimes implemented. In the Denver Unit of the Wasson field, for example, three very large portions of the unit were converted over a period of more than 8 years. The net effect of a staggered development relative to a single-stage development is to obviously expand the recovery period and diminish the peak oil rate.
33
Summary and Conclusions We have successfully developed a non-simulation-based model to predict the rate history of tertiary solvent floods. The model is designed for scoping studies. The model is empirical and is based on hyperbolic decline curves and material balance. The model has been shown to closely match and predict the rate history of solvent floods. The model requires only minimal reservoir data to apply; namely, estimates of the OOIP, pore volume, cumulative EOR, injection rate, initial oil formation volume factor, and initial water saturation. Based on only this data, the model will predict the oil-rate history and cumulative recovery curve. The model is ideally suited for spreadsheet calculation and can be easily incorporated into existing cash-flow models.
34
SCREENING CRITERIA
Table 8 shows a summary of miscible EOR screening criteria offered by several investigators (Brashear and Kuuskraa, 1978; Goodlett, et al., 1986; Taber, et al. 1997; Klins, 1984; Taber, and Martin, 1983). This table was assembled from an analysis of papers from the literature search. Screening criteria include variables such as depth, oil viscosity, oil gravity, oil saturation prior to flooding, operating pressure, oil composition, and pay thickness. Some investigators consider criteria for miscible EOR regardless of process; other investigators adopt different criteria for different processes within miscible EOR. For instance, Goodlett, et al. (1986) give separate criteria for hydrocarbon, nitrogen or flue gas, or carbon dioxide miscible projects. Though most investigators ignore a criterion regarding pressure, it is implied that the reservoir pressure must meet or exceed the minimum miscibility pressure if miscibility is to be attained. This criterion is sometimes implied through the depth criterion. Though these criteria are informative, they may be misleading. The criteria limits may be very different from industry average values, where the latter is defined as the average value for past and present projects. Taber et al. (1997) addressed this problem and offered an interesting set of criteria that included average parameter values. For example, most sets of criteria dictate a maximum oil viscosity of between 10 to 20 cp. Taber et al. in contrast, added that the average oil viscosity for past and present projects was between 0.2 and 1.5 cp. This example shows that the screening criteria may be so coarse that they do not accurately reflect what is needed for a successful project. Appendix E includes a summary of screening criteria for other EOR categories, such as chemical flooding. Copies of selected pages and tables from cited literature are reproduced.
35
High C1-C7
High C1-C7
Prefer thin pay, high dip, homogeneous formation, low vertical permeability
Taber, Martin, & Seright Parameter Depth, ft Oil viscosity, cp* o Gravity, API Oil saturation, %PV ** Original pressure, psia Operating pressure, psia Oil composition Net thickness HC Miscible > 4000 <3 > 23 > 30 N2, flue gas > 6000 < 0.4 > 35 > 40 CO2 > 2500 < 10 > 22 > 20 Immiscible > 1800 < 600 > 12 > 35
Comments
Parameter
Klins CO2 Flooding > 3000 < 12 > 30 > 25 > 1500
Taber & Martin Miscible EOR > 2000 for LPG > 5000 for HPG < 10 > 35 > 30
Depth, ft Oil viscosity, cp* o Gravity, API Oil saturation, %PV ** Original pressure, psia Operating pressure, psia Oil composition Net thickness Comments
High C2 C7 Thin unless dipping Prefer minimum fracturing; not highly heterogeneous permeability
_____________________________ * at reservoir conditions ** prior to flooding HPG = high-pressure gas LPG = liquefied petroleum gas MMP = minimum miscibility pressure
36
REFERENCES
Awan, A.R., Teigland, R., and Kleppe, J.: EOR Survey in the North Sea, SPE 99546, presented at the SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, OK (2006). Brokmeyer, R.J., Borling, D.C., and Pierson, W.T.: Lost Soldier Tensleep CO2 Tertiary Project, Performance Case History; Bairoil, Wyoming, SPE 35191 presented at the Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference, Midland, TX (1996). Bush, J.L. and Helander, D.P.:Empirical Prediction of Recovery Rate in Waterflooding Depleted Sands, J. Pet. Tech. (Sept., 1968) 933-43. Damgaard, Anders: Personal Communication, Maersk Oil and Gas, May, 2008. Fayers, F. J., Hawes, R.I., and Mathews, J.D.: Some Aspects of the Potential Application of Surfactants or CO2 as EOR Processes in North Sea Reservoirs, J. Pet. Tech., (September, 1981). Flanders, W.A. and DePauw, R.M.: Update Case History: Performance of the Twofreds Tertiary CO2 Project, SPE 26614, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Houston, TX (1993). Guerrero, E.T. and Earlougher, R.C.: Analysis and Comparison of Five Methods Used to Predict Waterflood Reserves and Performance, presented at the spring meeting of the Mid-Continent District, API Div. Of Production, Tulsa, OK, April, 1961. Holland, R.C., et al.: Case History of a Successful Rocky Mountain Pilot CO2 Flood, SPE 14939, presented at the Symposium on Enhance Oil Recovey, Tulsa, OK (1986). Jensen, T.B., Harpole, K.J., and Osthus, A.: EOR Screening for Ekofisk, SPE 65124, presented at the SPE European Petroleum Conference, Paris, France (2000). Kirkpatrick, R.K., Flanders, W.A., DePauw, R.M.: Performance of the Twofreds CO2 Injection Project, SPE 14439, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, Nevada (1985). Kleinsteiber, S.: The Wertz Tensleep CO2 Flood: Design and Initial Performance, J. Pet. Tech. (1990). Lake, L.W and Walsh, M.P..: Proposal: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Field Data Literature Search, August, 24, 2007. Lake, Larry W., Enhanced Oil Recovery, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs New Jersey, 1989. Available through the author. Langston, M.V., Hoadley, S.F., and Young, D.N.: Definitive CO2 Flooding Response in the SACROC Unit, SPE 17321, presented at the 1988 SPE/DOE EOR Symposium, Tulsa, OK (1988). Oil and Gas Journal: 2006 Worldwide EOR Survey, April 17, 2006. Riley, E.A.: Economic Factors in Waterflooding, presented at the 11th Annual Southwest Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, TX, April 23-24, 1964. Rowe, H.G.: Slaughter Estate Unit Tertiary Pilot Performance, J. Pet. Tech., SPE 9796 (March, 1982). Stein, M.H., Frey, D.D., Walker, R.D., and Pariani, G.J.: Slaughter Estate CO2 Flood: Comparison Between Pilot and Field-Scale Performance, SPE 19373, J. Pet. Tech. (September, 1992). Thrash, J.C.: Twofreds Field: A Tertiary Oil Recovery Project, SPE 8382, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, Nevada (1979). Willhite, G.P.: Waterflooding, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson, TX (1986).
37
NOMENCLATURE
BPD Bo Bs Bw b D DD EOR ER fo MSCF MSCFPD Np N OOIP Q QT q RB Sw SCF STB t Vp Barrels per day Oil formation volume factor Solvent (gas) formation volume factor Water formation volume factor Decline exponent (Arps exponent) Decline rate Dimensionless decline rate Enhanced oil recovery Efficiency or recovery factor Oil cut Thousands of standard cubic feet Thousands of standard cubic feet per day Cumulative produced oil Original oil inplace Original oil inplace Injection rate Total injection rate Production rate Reservoir barrels Water saturation Standard cubic feet Stock-tank barrels Time Pore volume
Greek Symbols
Peak rate Initial Waterflood Enhanced oil recovery process Dimensionless Water Oil Solvent
38
CONVERSION FACTORS
1 m3 1 m3 1 km2 1 km2 1 atm 6.896 MPa 1m (oF) = = = = = = = = 35.3 ft3 6.29 bbls 247.1 acres 100 hectares 14.7 psia 1000 psia 3.28 ft 1.8(oC) + 32
39
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Title Ten Years of Miscible Displacement in Block 31 Field CARBONATED WATERFLOOD RESULTS--TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA Processing of Geological and Engineering Data Multipay Fields for Evaluation Case Histories of Carbonated Waterfloods in Dewey-Bartlesville Field Small Propane Slug Proving Success in Slaughter Field Lease LPG-Gas Injection Recovery Process Burkett Unit, Greenwood County, Kansas Performance of a Miscible Flood with Alternate Gas-Water Displacement A Field Test of the Gas-Driven Liquid Propane Method of Oil Recovery Meadow Creek Unit Lakota "B" Combination Water-Miscible Flood An Efficient Gas Displacement Project Raleigh Field, Mississippi Performance of Domes Unit Carbonated Waterflood - First Stage Pilot Propane Project Completed in West Texas Reef Performance of Seeligson Zone 20B-07 Enriched-Gas-Drive Project Success of Flue Gas Program At Neale Field Waterflood Performance Of a Shallow Channel Sandstone Reservoir Burkett Pool, Coleman County, Texas A Current Appraisal of Field Miscible Slug Projects Ante Creek - A Miscible Flood Using Separator Gas and Water Injection Case History of the University Block 9 (Wolfcamp) FieldA Gas-Water Injection Secondary Recovery Project Performance of a Propane Slug Pilot in a Watered-Out SandSouth Ward Field Prediction of Recovery in Unstable Miscible Flooding Carbon Dioxide Test at the Mead-Strawn Field Steam Distillation Drive-Brea Field, California High Pressure Miscible Gas Displacement Project, Bridger Lake Unit, Summit County Advanced Technology Improves Recovery at Fairway Propane-Gas-Water Miscible Floods In Watered-Out Areas of the Adena Field, Colorado Tertiary Miscible Flood in Phegly Unit, Washington County, Colorado Evaluation and Design of a CO2 Miscible Flood Project-SACROC Unit, KellySnyder Field Performance of a Miscible Flood in the Bear Lake Cardium Unit, Pembina Field, Alberta, Canada Fosterton Northwest - A Tertiary Combustion Case History Miscible Flood Performance of the Intisar "D" Field, Libyan Arab Republic
Year 1961
1963 1963 1964 1957 1964 1963 1959 1967 1967 1968 1970 1970 1970 1970 1971 1971 1973 1972 1972 1973 1975
1975
40
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
SPE Paper No. 5536-PA 5539-MS 5560-PA 5821-PA 5826-PA 5826-PA 5893-MS 6117-PA 6140-PA 6350-PA 6388-MS 6390-PA 6391-MS 6624-MS 6626-MS 6747-MS 6974-MS 7049-MS 7051-MS 7090-MS 7091-PA 7553-MS 8200-PA 8382-MS 8410-MS 8740-MS 8830-PA 8831-MS 8832-MS 8897-PA
Title Reservoir Description by Simulation at SACROC - A Case History Reservoir Engineering Design of a Tertiary Miscible Gas Drive Pilot Project Status of CO2 and Hydrocarbon Miscible Oil Recovery Methods A Study of Fireflood Field Projects (includes associated paper 6504) Enriched-Gas Miscible Flooding: A Case History of the Levelland Unit Secondary Miscible Project Enriched-Gas Miscible Flooding: A Case History of the Levelland Unit Secondary Miscible Project Non-Thermal Heavy Oil Recovery Methods An Evaluation of Miscible CO2 Flooding in Waterflooded Sandstone Reservoirs Pool Description and Performance Analysis Leads to Understanding Golden Spike's Miscible Flood The Potential and Economics of Enhanced Oil Recovery A Review of the Willard (San Andres) Unit CO2 Injection Project North Cross (Devonian) Unit CO2 Flood - Review of Flood Performance and Numerical Simulation Model Corrosion and Operational Problems, CO2 Project, Sacroc Unit APPRAISAL OF MICELLAR FLOODING, CARBON DIOXIDE AND SURFACTANT FLOODING PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT OF A PILOT CARBON DIOXIDE FLOOD IN THE ROCK CREEKBIG INJUN FIELD, ROANE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA A CO2 TERTIARY RECOVERY PILOT LITTLE CREEK FIELD, MISSISSIPPI ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY TECHNIQUES - STATE OF THE ART REVIEW USE OF TIME-LAPSE LOGGING TECHNIQUES IN EVALUATING THE WILLARD UNIT CO2 FLOOD MINI-TEST A METHOD FOR PROJECTING FULL-SCALE PERFORMANCE OF CO2 FLOODING IN THE WILLARD UNIT SACROC TERTIARY CO2 PILOT PROJECT Performance Review of a Large-Scale CO2-WAG Enhanced Recovery Project, SACROC Unit Kelly-Snyder Field RESERVOIR STUDY OF THE CAMP SAND, HAYNESVILLE FIELD, LOUISIANA History Match Analysis of the Little Creek CO2 Pilot Test TWOFREDS FIELD A TERTIARY OIL RECOVERY PROJECT DESIGN AND OPERATION OF THE LEVELLAND UNIT CO2 INJECTION FACILITY GRANNY'S CREEK CO2 INJECTION PROJECT, CLAY COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA Slaughter Estate Unit CO2 Pilot - Surface and Downhole Equipment Construction and Operation in the Presence of H2S DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A LEVELLAND UNIT CO2 TERTIARY PILOT REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF PAST AND ONGOING CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION FIELD TESTS Carbon Dioxide Well Stimulation: Part 2 -- Design of Aminoil's North Bolsa Strip Project (includes associated papers 11928 and 12234 )
1977 1977
1977 1977 1978 1978 1978 1979 1978 1980 1979 1979 1979 1981 1980 1980 1982
41
61 62 63 64 65 66 67
SPE Paper No. 9415-PA 9430-PA 9430-PA 9719-PA 9786-MS 9796-PA 9798-MS
68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
9805-PA 9830-MS 9976-PA 9992-PA 10026-MS 10159-MS 10160-PA 10245-PA 10292-PA 10547-PA 10693-MS 10693-MS 10695-MS 10696-PA 10727-PA 10731-MS 10935-MS 11129-MS 11162-MS 11303-PA 11305-MS 11506-MS 11902-PA
Title Unique Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery for Very High-Pressure Wilcox Sands Uses Cryogenic Nitrogen and Methane Mixture A Single CO2 Injection Well Minitest in a Low-Permeability Carbonate Reservoir A Single CO2 Injection Well Minitest in a Low-Permeability Carbonate Reservoir Response of North Cowden and Goldsmith Crudes to Carbon Dioxide Slugs Pushed by Nitrogen UTILIZATION OF COMPOSITION OBSERVATION WELLS IN A WEST TEXAS CO2 PILOT FLOOD Slaughter Estate Unit Tertiary Pilot Performance SAN ANDRES RESERVOIR PRESSURE CORING PROJECT FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY EVALUATION, BENNETT RANCH UNIT, WASSON FIELD, WEST TEXAS Planning a Tertiary Oil-Recovery Project for Jay/LEC Fields Unit APPRAISING FEASIBILITY OF TERTIARY RECOVERY WITH CARBON DIOXIDE Some Aspects of the Potential Application of Surfactants or CO2 as EOR Processes in North Sea Reservoirs Status of Miscible Displacement The Wizard Lake D-3A Pool Miscible Flood Analysis and Design of a Deep Reservoir, High Volume Nitrogen Injection Project in the R-1 Sand, Lake Barre Field Implementation of a Gravity-Stable Miscible CO2 Flood in the 8000 Foot Sand, Bay St. Elaine Field Review of Miscible Flood Performance, Intisar "D" Field, Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya CO2 Flood Performance Evaluation for the Cornell Unit, Wasson San Andres Field Thistle Field Development CO2 Injection for Tertiary Oil Recovery, Granny's Creek Field, Clay County, West Virginia CO2 Injection for Tertiary Oil Recovery, Granny's Creek Field, Clay County, West Virginia Weeks Island "S" Sand Reservoir B Gravity Stable Miscible CO2 Displacement, Iberia Parish, Louisiana Enhanced Oil Recovery by CO2 Miscible Displacement in the Little Knife Field, Billings County, North Dakota Slaughter Estate Unit Tertiary Miscible Gas Pilot Reservoir Description Technical Feasibility of Chemical Flooding in California Reservoirs A New Dawn for CO2 EOR Numerical Simulation of a Gravity Stable, Miscible CO2 Injection Project in a West Texas Carbonate Reef Ten Years of Handling CO2 for SACROC Unit Valuation of Supplemental and Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects With Risk Analysis Should We Continue To Explore in the North Sea? Design and Evaluation of a Gravity-Stable, Miscible CO2-Solvent Flood, Bay St. Elaine Field Analysis of Nitrogen-Injection Projects to Develop Screening Guides and Offshore Design Criteria
1983
1983 1983
1980
42
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
SPE Paper No. 11987-MS 12069-MS 12197-MS 12333-MS 12637-PA 12664-MS 12665-MS 12666-MS 12668-MS 12704-MS 13238-MS 13242-MS 13272-MS 13989-MS 14059-MS 14105-MS 14287-PA 14308-PA 14439-MS 14835-PA 14934-PA 14939-MS 14940-PA 14951-MS 14953-MS 15172-MS 15497-MS 15569-PA 15591-MS 15752-MS
Title Design and Operation of a CO2 Tertiary Pilot: Means San Andres Unit Technical Screening Guides for the Enhanced Recovery of Oil CO2 Flood: Design and Initial Operations, Ford Geraldine (Delaware Sand) Unit Danish Underground Consortium Gas Development Project Danish North Sea Planning and Implementing a Large-Scale Polymer Flood CO2 Miscible Flooding Evaluation of the South Welch Unit, Welch San Andres Field Evaluation Of CO2 Flood Performance, Springer "A" Sand, NE Purdy Unit, Garvin County, OK First Results From the Maljamar Carbon Dioxide Pilot CO2 Flooding a Waterflooded Shallow Pennsylvanian Sand in Oklahoma: A Case History CO2 Minitest, Little Knife Field, ND: A Case History A Simplified Predictive Model for CO2 Miscible Flooding The National Petroleum Council EOR Study: Thermal Processes Design and Implementation of a Miscible Water-Alternating-Gas Flood at Prudhoe Bay THE THISTLE FIELD - ANALYSIS OF ITS PAST PERFORMANCE AND OPTIMISATION OF ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT A Study of Nitrogen Injection for Increased Recovery From a Rich Retrograde Gas/Volatile Oil Reservoir Factors To Consider When Designing a CO2 Flood Design, Installation, and Early Operation of the Timbalier Bay S-2B(RA)SU Gravity-Stable, Miscible CO2-injection Project Investigation of Unexpectedly Low Field-Observed Fluid Mobilities During Some CO2 Tertiary Floods Performance of the Twofreds CO2 Injection Project In-Situ Combustion Appraisal and Status Improving Chemical Flood Efficiency With Micellar/Alkaline/Polymer Processes Case History of a Successful Rocky Mountain Pilot CO2 Flood The Maljamar CO2 Pilot: Review and Results The Status and Potential of Enhanced Oil Recovery A Progress Report on Polymer-Augmented Waterflooding in Wyoming's North Oregon Basin and Byron Fields The Role of Screening and Laboratory Flow Studies in EOR Process Evaluation Design and Implementation of Immiscible Carbon Dioxide Displacement Projects (CO2 Huff-Puff) in South Louisiana Skjold Field, Danish North Sea: Early Evaluations of Oil Recovery Through Water Imbibition in a Fractured Reservoir NITROGEN MANAGEMENT AT THE EAST BINGER UNIT USING AN INTEGRATED CRYOGENIC PROCESS Case Study: Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential for the Garzan Field, Turkey
1984
1984
1986 1987
1986
1986 1983
43
125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
16830-MS 17134-PA 17140-PA 17277-MS 17321-MS 17323-MS 17326-MS 17349-PA 17351-MS 17353-PA 17620-MS 17683-MS 17791-MS 17800-MS 18002-MS 18067-PA 18068-MS 18278-PA 18761-MS 18977-MS 19020-MS 19023-MS 19375-PA 19636-MS 19656-MS 19657-MS
Title North Sea Field Development: Historic Costs and Future Trends Gas Injection in the Eastern Fault Block of the Thistle Field East Vacuum Grayburg-San Andres Unit CO2 Injection Project: Development and Results to Date Development and Results of the Hale/Mable Leases Cooperative Polymer EOR Injection Project, Vacuum (Grayburg-San Andres) Field, Lea County, New Mexico CO2 Injection and Production Field Facilities Design Evaluation and Considerations Evolution of the Carbon Dioxide Flooding Processes Polymer Flooding Review Evaluation and Implementation Of CO2 Injection at the Dollarhide Devonian Unit Definitive CO2 Flooding Response in the SACROC Unit History Match of the Maljamar CO2 Pilot Performance Cedar Creek Anticline Carbon Dioxide Injectivity Test: Design, Implementation, and Analysis Review of the Means San Andres Unit CO2 Tertiary Project Weeks Island Gravity Stable CO2 Pilot Chatom Gas Condensate Cycling Project Numerical Simulation of Gravity-Stable Hydrocarbon Solvent Flood, Wizard Lake D-3A Pool, Alberta, Canada Use of Compositional Simulation in the Management of Arun Gas Condensate Reservoir EOR Screening With an Expert System Enhanced Oil Recovery Model Input Program Performance of a Heavy-Oil Recovery Process by an immiscible CO2 Application, Bati Raman Field The Wertz Tensleep CO2 Flood: Design and Initial Performance Enhanced Oil Recovery Evaluation of the Flounder T-1.1 Reservoir Rock Compressibility, Compaction, and Subsidence in a High-Porosity Chalk Reservoir: A Case Study of Valhall Field Miscible Displacement of Heavy West Sak Crude by Solvents in Slim Tube Summary Results of CO2 EOR Field Tests, 1972-1987 NORTH SEA ECONOMICS A New Approach to SACROC Injection Well Testing Slaughter Estate Unit CO2 Flood: Comparison Between Pilot and Field-Scale Performance Field-Derived Comparison of Tertiary Recovery Mechanisms for Miscible CO2 Flooding of Waterdrive and Pressure-Depleted Reservoirs in South Louisiana Reservoir Description and Performance Analysis of a Mature Miscible Flood in Rainbow Field, Canada Impact of Solvent Injection Strategy and Reservoir Description on Hydrocarbon Miscible EOR for the Prudhoe Bay Unit, Alaska
44
151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180
SPE Paper No. 19840-MS 19878-MS 20120-MS 20156-MS 20224-MS 20227-MS 20229-PA 20234-MS 20255-MS 20268-MS 20938-MS 20991-PA 21649-MS 21762-MS 22653-MS 22898-PA 22918-MS 22930-MS 22946-PA 23082-MS 23312-MS 23564-PA 23598-PA 23641-PA 23975-MS 24038-MS 24141-MS 24143-MS 24145-MS 24156-MS
Title Primary and Enhanced Recovery of Ekofisk Field: A Single- and DoublePorosity Numerical Simulation Study Improving Recovery From the Dunlin Field, U.K. Northern North Sea Waterflood Pattern Realignment at the McElroy Field: Section 205 Case History A Review of Heterogeneity Measures Used in Reservoir Characterization Design of a Novel Flooding System for an Oil-Wet Central Texas Carbonate Reservoir A Full-Field Numerical Modeling Study for the Ford Geraldine Unit CO Flood A Case History of the Hanford San Andres Miscible CO2 Project A Comparison of 31 Minnelusa Polymer Floods With 24 Minnelusa Waterfloods Evaluation of Unrecovered Mobile Oil in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico Design and Results of a Shallow, Light Oilfield-Wide Application of CO2 Huff `n' Puff Process Future Trends in the North Sea : What's Ahead? Enhanced Recovery Under Constrained Conditions The Use of Selective Injection Equipment in the Rangely Weber Sand Unit An Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Flooding A Laboratory and Field Injectivity Study: CO2 WAG in the San Andres Formation of West Texas Reservoir Performance of a Gravity-Stable, Vertical CO2 Miscible Flood: Wolfcamp Reef Reservoir, Wellman Unit Reservoir Gas Management in the Brae Area of the North Sea North Sea Chalk Reservoirs: An Appealing Target for Horizontal Wells? Waterflood and CO2 Flood of the Fractured Midale Field (includes associated paper 22947 ) Integrated Study of the Kraka Field Produced Water Management Carbon Dioxide Flooding Mobility Control Experience in the Joffre Viking Miscible CO2 Flood Ranking Reservoirs for Carbon Dioxide Flooding Processes A Simple Technique to Forecast CO2 Flood Performance Feasibility Study of CO2 Stimulation in the West Sak Field, Alaska Experimental Evaluation of a Single-Well Surfactant Tracer Test for a North Sea Oil Reservoir Evaluation of a South Louisiana CO2 Huff 'n' Puff Field Test Performance Review of a Large-Scale Polymer Flood Production Performance of the Wasson Denver Unit CO2 Flood
Year
1990 1992
1990
1992
45
181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210
SPE Paper No. 24160-MS 24163-MS 24176-MS 24184-MS 24185-MS 24210-MS 24333-MS 24337-MS 24346-MS 24874-MS 24928-MS 24931-MS 25058-MS 26404-MS 26614-MS 26622-MS 26624-MS 26787-MS 27660-MS 27678-MS 27756-MS 27762-MS 27763-MS 27766-MS 27767-MS 27787-PA 27792-PA 27825-MS 28435-MS 28834-MS
Title Early CO2 Flood Experience at the South Wasson Clearfork Unit Interpretation of a CO2 WAG Injectivity Test in the San Andres Formation Using a Compositional Simulator CO2-Foam Field Verification Pilot Test at EVGSAU Injection Project Phase I: Project Planning and Initial Results Phase Behavior Modeling Techniques for Low-Temperature CO2 Applied to McElroy and North Ward Estes Projects CO2 Miscible Flood Simulation Study, Roberts Unit, Wasson Field, Yoakum County, Texas North Cross (Devonian) Unit CO2 Flood: Status Report Dolphin Field: A Successful Miscible Gas Flood in a Small Volatile Oil Reservoir The Feasibility of Using CO2 EOR Techniques in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming High-Rate Refracturing: Optimization and Performance in a CO2 Flood Brassey Field Miscible Flood Management Program Features Innovative Tracer Injection Update of Industry Experience With CO2 Injection Simulation of a Successful Polymer Flood in the Chateaurenard Field Practical Considerations of Horizontal Well Fracturing in the Danish Chalk A Compositional Simulation Evaluation of the Brassey Artex B Pool, British Columbia, Canada Update Case History: Performance of the Twofreds Tertiary CO2 Project WAG Process Optimization in the Rangely CO2 Miscible Flood Reservoir Management in Tertiary CO2 Floods Saving Thistle's Bacon: The Role of Reservoir Management in Optimising a High Watercut Field Technical Factors Useful for Screening Carbonate Reservoirs for Waterflood Infill Drilling North Dollarhide (Devonian) Unit: Reservoir Characterization and CO2 Feasibility Study Rangely Weber Sand Unit CO2 Project Update: Decisions and Issues Facing a Maturing EOR Project A Probabilistic Forecasting Method for the Huntley CO2 Projects Comparison of Actual Results of EOR Field Projects to Calculated Results of EOR Predictive Models A Review of IOR/EOR Opportunities for the Brent Field: Depressurisation, the Way Forward EOR by Miscible CO2 Injection in the North Sea CO2 Foam: Results From Four Developmental Field Trials Case History and Appraisal of the Medicine Pole Hills Unit Air Injection Project Injection Conformance Control Case Histories Using Gels at the Wertz Field CO2 Tertiary Flood in Wyoming Dipping Fluid Contacts in the Kraka Field, Danish North Sea Development of a Thin Oil Rim With Horizontal Wells in a Low Relief Chalk Gas Field, Tyra Field, Danish North Sea
Year 1992
1992 1992
1994
1994
1994
1994
46
211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240
SPE Paper No. 28859-MS 29115-MS 29116-PA 29145-MS 29521-MS 29565-MS 30443-MS 30645-MS 30725-MS 30726-MS 30742-MS 30795-PA 31062-PA 35188-MS 35189-MS 35190-MS 35191-MS 35319-MS 35359-PA 35361-MS 35363-MS 35385-PA 35391-MS 35395-MS 35410-MS 35429-MS 35431-MS 35698-PA 36711-MS 36844-MS
Title REGNAR - Development of a Marginal Field Evaluating Miscible and Immiscible Gas Injection in the Safah Field, Oman Field-Scale CO2 Flood Simulations and Their Impact on the Performance of the Wasson Denver Unit Application of Adaptive Mesh-Refinement With a New Higher-Order Method in Simulation of a North Sea Micellar/Polymer Flood Field Trial of Simultaneous Injection of CO2 and Water, Rangely Weber Sand Unit, Colorado Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Technology Potential of the Minnelusa Trend, Powder River Basin Reservoir Management in the Ninian Field - A Case History Simultaneous Water and Gas Injection Pilot at the Kuparuk River Field, Surface Line Impact Reservoir Management and Optimization of the Mitsue Gilwood Sand Unit #1 Horizontal Hydrocarbon Miscible Flood Simultaneous Water and Gas Injection Pilot at the Kuparuk River Field, Reservoir Impact Horizontal Well Applications in a Miscible CO2 Flood, Sundown Slaughter Unit, Hockley County, Texas Recovery of gas-condensate by nitrogen injection compared with methane injection The Relation Among Porosity, Permeability, and Specific Surface of Chalk From the Gorm Field, Danish North Sea Design and Implementation of a Grass-Roots CO2 Project for the Bennett Ranch Unit A Case Study of the Development of the Sundown Slaughter Unit CO2 Flood Hockley County, Texas Dollarhide Devonian CO2 Flood: Project Performance Review 10 Years Later Lost Soldier Tensleep CO2 Tertiary Project, Performance Case History; Bairoil, Wyoming On the Exploitation Conditions of the Akal Reservoir Considering Gas Cap Nitrogen Injection SACROC Unit CO2 Flood: Multidisciplinary Team Improves Reservoir Management and Decreases Operating Costs Evolution of Conformance Improvement Efforts in a Major CO2 WAG Injection Project Diagnosing CO2 Flood Performance Using Actual Performance Data EOR Screening Criteria Revisited - Part 1: Introduction to Screening Criteria and Enhanced Recovery Field Projects Analogy Procedure For The Evaluation Of CO2 Flooding Potential For Reservoirs In The Permian And Delaware Basins FIELD SCALE SIMULATION STUDY OF IN-SITU COMBUSTION IN HIGH PRESSURE LIGHT OIL RESERVOIRS Improved CO2 Flood Predictions Using 3D Geologic Description and Simulation on the Sundown Slaughter Unit Determination of Relative Permeability and Trapped Gas Saturation for Predictions of WAG Performance in the South Cowden CO2 Flood Screening Criteria for Application of Carbon Dioxide Miscible Displacement in Waterflooded Reservoirs Containing Light Oil Kuparuk Large Scale Enhanced Oil Recovery Project From Simulator to Field Management: Optimum WAG Application in a West Texas CO2 Flood - A Case History RUTH - A Comprehensive Norwegian R & D program on IOR
1995
1996 1996
47
241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270
SPE Paper No. 36935-MS 37332-MS 37470-MS 37755-MS 37780-MS 37782-MS 37954-MS 38558-MS 38848-MS 38905-MS 38928-MS 39234-PA 39620-MS 39778-MS 39787-MS 39793-MS 39808-MS 39881-MS 39883-MS 39885-MS 48895-MS 48945-MS 49016-MS 49168-MS 49169-MS 49519-MS 50641-MS 50930-MS 51087-MS 52198-MS
Title Reservoir Simulation of the Planned Miscible Gas Injection Project at Rhourde El Baguel, Algeria A Geostatistical Study of a Pilot Area in the Griffithsville Oil Field The Evaluation of Two Different Methods of Obtaining Injection Profiles in CO2 WAG Horizontal Injection Wells Alwyn North IOR Gas Injection Potential - A Case Study Stylolites Impact the Miscible Nitrogen Flood in a Mature Carbonate Oil Field AIR INJECTION INTO A LIGHT OIL RESERVOIR: THE HORSE CREEK PROJECT Development of Marginal Fields Through Technical and Commercial Innovation - A Case History from the UK North Sea Using 4000 ft Long Induced Fractures to Water Flood the Dan Field Keys to Increasing Production Via Air Injection in Gulf Coast Light Oil Reservoirs Laboratory Testing and Simulation Results for High Pressure Air Injection in a Waterflooded North Sea Oil Reservoir Making Sense of Water Injection Fractures in the Dan Field EOR Screening Criteria Revisited Part 2: Applications and Impact of Oil Prices Effect of Wettability on Oil Recovery by Near-miscible Gas Injection CO2 Energized and Remedial 100% CO2 Treatments Improve Productivity in Wolfcamp Intervals, Val Verde Basin, West Texas Find Grid CO2 Injection Process Simulation for Dollarhide Devonian Reservoir History Matching and Modeling the CO-Foam Pilot Test at EVGSAU West Welch CO Flood Simulation with an Equation of State and Mixed Wettability An Integrated Investigation for Design of a CO Pilot in the Naturally Fractured Spraberry Trend Area, West Texas Review of WAG Field Experience The Feasibility Studies of Natural Gas Flooding in Ansai Field Field Foam Applications in Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects: Screening and Design Aspects Goldsmith San Andres Unit CO2 Pilot - Design, Implementation, and Early Performance Evaluation of Steam Injection Process in Light Oil Reservoirs Simulation of a CO2 Flood in the Slaughter Field with Geostatistical Reservoir Characterization Field Case: Cyclic Gas Recovery for Light Oil-Using Carbon Dioxide/Nitrogen/Natural Gas Appraisal of the HORSE CREEK Air Injection Project Performance Brage Field, Lessons Learned After 5 Years of Production A Feasibility Research Method and Project Design on CO2 Miscible Flooding for a Small Complex Fault Block Field History and Potential Future of Improved Oil Recovery in the Appalachian Basin Coral Creek Field Study: A Comprehensive Assessment of the Potential of High-Pressure Air Injection in a Mature Waterflood Project
Year 1996
1997
1998
1998
1998
48
271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298
SPE Paper No. 52669-PA 52669-PA 53335-MS 54087-MS 54429-PA 54619-MS 54772-PA 55633-MS 56791-MS 56822-MS 56849-PA 56882-PA 59363-MS 59550-MS 59717-MS 63134-MS 64383-MS 65029-MS 65124-MS 65165-MS 66378-MS 68285-PA 70017-MS 70066-MS 71203-PA 71279-PA 71322-MS 71629-MS
299 300
72103-MS 72106-MS
Title Making Sense of Water Injection Fractures in the Dan Field Making Sense of Water Injection Fractures in the Dan Field Design of Action Plan and Monitoring Program: Secondary and Tertiary Gas Injection Pilots in a Limestone Reservoir The Development of Heavy Oil Fields in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf: Past, Present, and Future Development and Testing of a Foam-Gel Technology to Improve Conformance of the Rangely CO2 Flood Schrader Bluff CO2 EOR Evaluation Large-Volume Foam-Gel Treatments to Improve Conformance of the Rangely CO2 Flood Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Flooding of the Cambridge Minnelusa Field Yates Field Steam Pilot Applies Latest Seismic and Logging Monitoring Techniques Geostatistical Scaling Laws Applied to Core and Log Data Unconventional Miscible Enhanced Oil Recovery Experience at Prudhoe Bay Use of Full-Field Simulation to Design a Miscible CO2 Flood Alkali / Surfactant / Polymer at VLA 6/9/21 Field in Maracaibo Lake: Experimental Results and Pilot Project Design Reservoir Characterization and Laboratory Studies Assessing Improve Oil Recovery Methods for the Teague-Blinebry Field A Pulsed Neutron Analysis Model for Carbon Dioxide Floods: Application to the Reinecke Field, West Texas Dynamic Reservoir Characterization at Central Vacuum Unit Case Study of Hydraulic Fracture Completions in Horizontal Wells, South Arne Field Danish North Sea Mineral Scale Control in a CO2 Flooded Oilfield EOR Screening for Ekofisk SWAG Injection on the Siri Field - An Optimized Injection System for Less Cost Modeling Miscible WAG Injection EOR in the Magnus Field Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Flooding of the Cambridge Minnelusa Field Quantitative Analysis of Deliverability, Decline Curve, and Pressure Tests in CO2 Rich Reservoirs Horizontal Injectors Rejuvenate Mature Miscible Flood - South Swan Hills Field Review of WAG Field Experience Handil Field: Three Years of Lean-Gas Injection Into Waterflooded Reservoirs Halfdan: Developing Non-Structurally Trapped Oil in North Sea Chalk Applied Multisource Pressure Data Integration for Dynamic Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir, and Production Management: A Case History from the Siri Field, Offshore Denmark Identifying Improved Oil Recovery Potential: A New Systematic Risk Management Approach Evaluation of CO2 Gas Injection For Major Oil Production Fields in Malaysia Experimental Approach Case Study: Dulang Field
Year
1999
1999
2001
49
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330
SPE Paper No. 72107-MS 72127-MS 72466-PA 72503-PA 73830-PA 75126-MS 75152-MS 75157-MS 75170-MS 75171-MS 75229-MS 76722-MS 77302-PA 77695-MS 78327-MS 78344-MS 78348-MS 78349-MS 78362-MS 78527-MS 78711-MS 80475-MS 81008-MS 81458-MS 81461-MS 81464-MS 82140-PA 84076-MS 84904-MS 86954-MS
Title Unconventional Miscible EOR Experience at Prudhoe Bay: A Project Summary A Numerical Study To Evaluate The Use Of WAG As An EOR Method For Oil Production Improvement At B.Kozluca Field, Turkey Performance Evaluation of a Mature Miscible Gasflood at Prudhoe Bay Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Light-Oil Recovery by Air Injection A Literature Analysis of the WAG Injectivity Abnormalities in the CO2 Process SWAG Injectivity Behavior Based on Siri Field Data Field Evaluation of Different Recovery Processes in Zone 4 of the Prudhoe Bay Field Foam-Assisted WAG: Experience from the Snorre Field IOR: The Brazilian Perspective Improved Hydrocarbon Recovery in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf: Past, Present and Future Smrbukk field: Impact of Small Scale Heterogeneity on Gas Cycling Performance Hydraulic Fracture Spacing in Horizontal Chalk Producers: The South Arne Field Horizontal Injectors Rejuvenate Mature Miscible Flood - South Swan Hills Field FAWAG: A Breakthrough for EOR in the North Sea New Relationship Between Oil Company and Service Company Rejuvenates a Mature North Sea Gas Field 10 Years of WAG Injection in Lower Brent at the Gullfaks Field WAG Injection at the Statfjord Field, A Success Story Tertiary Miscible Gas Injection in the Alwyn North Brent Reservoirs Full Field Tertiary Gas Injection: A Case History Offshore Abu Dhabi Jay Nitrogen Tertiary Recovery Study: Managing a Mature Field Mature Waterfloods Renew Oil Production by Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Flooding Improved Oil Recovery Through the Use of Horizontal Well in Thin Oil Column: A Case Study from Platong Field, Gulf of Thailand High Pressure Nitrogen Injection for Miscible/Immiscible Enhanced Oil Recovery Applying Improved Recovery Processes and Effective Reservoir Management to Maximize Oil Recovery at Salt Creek Al-Huwaisah Reservoir: The Long Journey to Improved Oil Recovery! Single Well Tests to determine the Efficiency of Alkaline-Surfactant Injection in a highly Oil-Wet Limestone Reservoir. Unconventional Miscible EOR Experience at Prudhoe Bay: A Project Summary WAG Pilot Design and Observation Well Data Analysis for Hassi Berkine South Field Selected U.S. Department of Energy's EOR Technology Applications Expanded Uses of Nitrogen, Oxygen and Rich Air for Increased Production of Both Light Oil and Heavy Oil
2002
2002 2002
2003 2003
2003 2003
50
331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360
SPE Paper No. 87250-MS 88451-MS 88499-MS 88716-MS 88717-MS 88769-MS 88770-MS 89338-MS 89356-MS 89363-PA 89364-MS 89367-MS 89382-MS 89440-MS 89441-MS 89452-MS 89461-MS 90307-MS 92006-MS 92419-MS 92763-MS 93364-MS 93368-MS 93472-MS 93606-MS 94007-MS 94049-MS 94139-MS 94637-MS 94682-MS
Title A Compositional Simulation of Alternative Options of a Gas Injection Project A Technical Evaluation of a CO2 Flood for EOR Benefits in the Cooper Basin, South Australia Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG) Pilot Implementation, A First EOR Development Project in Dulang Field, Offshore Peninsular Malaysia Evaluation of IOR Potential within Kuwait Simulation Study of Miscible Gas Injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Low Permeable Carbonate Reservoirs in Abu Dhabi Maturing Field: A Case History Offshore Abu Dhabi Lessons Learned from Mature Carbonates for Application to Middle East Fields A Study of IOR by CO2 Injection in the Gullfaks Field, Offshore Norway Gas Injection Pilot in the Hochleiten Field Streamline Technology for the Evaluation of Full Field Compositional Processes; Midale, A Case Study Lessons From Trinidad's CO2 Immiscible Pilot Projects 1973-2003 Application of the Novel Miscible Interpretation of RST Data and the WAG Pilot Results in Reservoir Simulation for Hassi Berkine South Field A Guide to Chemical Oil Recovery for the Independent Operator Three-phase Compositional Streamline Simulation and Its Application to WAG Analytical Model for 1-D Gas Flooding: Splitting between Hydrodynamics and Thermodynamics Selected U. S. Department of Energy EOR Technology Applications Production Performance Study of West Carney Field, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Simulation-Based EOR Evaluation of a North Sea Field Planning EOR Projects Reservoir Management of the Njord Field Beryl Field: Extracting Maximum Value from a Mature Asset Through the Evolution of Technology Precambrian Field Oman from Greenfield to EOR Applicability of Enhanced Oil Recovery techniques on mature fields - Interest of gas injection Reservoir Characterization and Simulations Studies in a Heterogeneous Pinnacle Reef for CO2 Flooding Purposes: A Case Study A Miscible WAG Project Using Horizontal Wells in a Mature Offshore Carbonate Middle East Reservoir Integrated Modeling of the Mature Ashtart Field, Tunisia Injection Fracturing in a Densely Spaced Line Drive Waterflood - The Halfdan Example APPLICATION OF TRACER TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTIMIZING RKF MISCIBLE GAS INJECTION PROJECT Planning EOR Projects in Offshore Oil Fields Identifying technical and economic EOR potential under conditions of limited information and time constraints
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SPE Paper No. 97462-MS 97507-MS 97639-MS 97650-MS 97693-MS 99546-MS 99789-MS 99789-PA 100021-MS 100044-MS 100063-MSP 100117-MS 100328-PA 101473-MS 101701-MS 102197-MS
Title Feasibility Study of CO2 Injection for Heavy Oil Reservoir after Cyclic Steam Stimulation: Liaohe oilfield test Gas Injection Programs in PERTAMINA West Java to Obtain Better Recovery: Field Screening, Laboratory and A Simulation Study Initial Results of WAG CO2 IOR Pilot Project Implementation in Croatia Methodology for Miscible Gas Injection EOR Screening Application of Improved and Enhanced Oil Recovery Strategies in the Tapis Field EOR Survey in the North Sea Development of a Correlation Between Performance of CO2 Flooding and the Past Performance of Waterflooding in Weyburn Oil Field Development of a Correlation Between Performance of CO2 Flooding and the Past Performance of Waterflooding in Weyburn Oil Field A Screening Model for CO2 Flooding and Storage in Gulf Coast Reservoirs Based on Dimensionless Groups Screening Criteria for CO2 Huff 'n' Puff Operations EOR Field Experiences in Carbonate Reservoirs in the United States Application of SmartWell Technology to the SACROC CO2 EOR Project: A Case Study Development of the Strasshof Tief Sour-Gas Field Including Acid-Gas Injection Into Adjacent Producing Sour-Gas Reservoirs Miscible Gas Injection Piloting and Modeling in a Giant Carbonate Reservoir Five Years of On-Going Conformance Work in the Central Mallet Unit CO2 Flood in West Texas Yields Improved Economics for Operator APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED RESERVOIR STUDIES AND PROBABILISTIC TECHNIQUES TO ESTIMATE OIL VOLUMES AND RECOVERY, TENGIZ FIELD, REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN Achieving the Vision in the Harweel Cluster, South Oman Seismically Driven Reservoir Characterization Using an Innovative Integrated Approach: Syd Arne Field Performance Evaluation of a Reservoir Under EOR REcovery: Intisar D Reef, Concession 103, Libya. Gas Blending for Miscible Gasfloods in South Oman Utilizing the Effect of Nitrogen to Implement Light Oil Air Injection in Malaysian Oil Fields Bate Raman Field Immiscible CO2 Application: Status Quo and Future Plans Modelling and early monitoring of miscible gas injection in the tight El Gassi Field, Algeria Miscible EOR Processes: Existence of Elliptic Regions in Gasflood Modeling Case Study: Application of a Viscoelastic Surfactant-Based CO2 Compatible Fracturing Fluid in the Frontier Formation, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming. Case Study: Application of a Viscoelastic Surfactant-Based CO2 Compatible Fracturing Fluid in the Frontier Formation, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming. Evaluating Reservoir Production Strategies in Miscible and Immiscible GasInjection Projects Water-Alternating-Gas Pilot in the Largest Oil Field in Argentina: Chihuido de la Sierra Negra, Neuquen Basin Seismic Observation and Verification of Line Drive Water Flood Patterns in a Chalk Reservoir, Halfdan Field, Danish North Sea Chemical EOR: The Past - Does It Have a Future? CO2 EOR From a North Michigan Silurian Reef
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102389-MS 103282-MS 104619-MS 105604-MS 105785-MS 106575-MS 107155-MS 107886-MS 107966-MS 107966-MS 108014-MS 108031-MS 108531-MS 108828-DL 111223-MS
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Field: Dollarhide
Key Papers 1. Bellavance, J.F.R.: Dollarhie Devonian CO2 Flodd: Project Performance Review 10 Years Later, SPE 35190, presented at Permian Basin Oil and Gas Recovery Conference, Midland, TX (1996).
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Field: Twofreds
Key Papers 1. Flanders, W.A. and DePauw, R.M.: Update Case History: Performance of the Twofreds Tertiary CO2 Project, SPE 26614, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, TX (1993).
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t3 usually falls between 1 and 6 years. We have observed that t3 correlates with the time constant Vp/QT. Physically, this ratio is the time to inject 1 pore volume of fluid into the reservoir. The inverse of the time constant, QT/Vp, is a scaled measure of the solvent floods rate. Figure C1 shows a plot of t3 versus Vp/QT. As expected, t3 increases as Vp/QT increases and QT/Vp decreases. Physically, this relationship shows that the elapsed time to reach the peak oil rate increases as the scaled flood rate decreases. Figure C1 shows a linear relationship between t3 and Vp/QT. Linear regression yields the following relationship between t3 and Vp/QT
Vp t 3 = 0.295 Q T 0.337
(C1)
where t3 and Vp/QT are expressed in years. This equation has a standard error of 0.17 years (2 months) and an average error of 4.2%. Since the time constant is known for a solvent flood, this equation gives an effective way to estimate the time difference t3. Equation (C1) is fit to the data give by the black dots in Figure C1. These points correspond to field data from Twofreds, Wertz, and Lost Soldier (LS) fields. Later, data points for West Sussex, SACROC 4PA, and SACROC 17PA became available and were added (open circles), but the correlation was not updated because the trend did not appreciably change. The additional data constitute a confirmation of the correlation. The time constant usually falls within a relatively narrow range. The time constants in Fig. C1, for example, vary between only 4.5 and 22 years/PVI. This range corresponds to a range of scaled rates between approximately 0.05 and 0.22 PVI/year. This range approximately agrees with the range for waterfloods. For instance, Riley (1964), Guerrero and Earlougher (1961), and Bush and Helander (1968) have observed that the scaled rate for most waterfloods generally falls between 0.10 and 0.30 PVI/year, a relatively narrow range. Willhite (1986) simply recommends assuming an average value of 0.29 PVI/year. 85
Figure C1. Time of peak oil rate (t3) versus time constant.
That the y-intercept in Fig. C1 nearly passes through the origin implies that the total injected fluid volume, expressed in pore volumes units at the peak time, is approximately constant, near 0.26 PVI. The variable tD3 is defined as the pore volumes of fluid injected at the peak rate. Thus, tD3 0.26. Equation. (C1) actually predicts that tD3 falls within a narrow range, between 0.24 and 0.28 PVI, i.e., 0.24 < tD3 < 0.28. This rang be used an alternate means to estimate t3. First, a value for tD3 within the range is selected; then, the corresponding value of t3 is computed. The field data gives an average tD3 value of 0.254. The effect of tD3 (within its range) on the resulting rate history is small. Thus, any value within the cited range is acceptable. Even values within the larger range 0.20 < tD3 < 0.33 have only a weak effect on the rate history. Relative to the base case of tD3 = 0.26, for instance, the average error in the yearly oil production over a 20-year flood life is less than 0.5% of the injection rate for tD3 = 0.20 and less than 0.7% of the injection rate for tD3 = 0.33. These results are for a cumulative recovery of 10% and bEOR = 0. These results illustrate relative insensitivity of the rate to tD3. If we simply assume tD3 = 0.254, then the time difference t3 is then computed by solving Eq. (16)
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t 3 =
t D3 Vp QT
0.254 Vp QT
(C2)
where t3 and Vp/QT are expressed in years. The correlation in Eq. (C1) and the guideline given above are valid if the well spacing is greater than 10 acres. For smaller well spacing, such as for pilot tests, solvent floods are usually much more efficient and the peak oil rate is delayed later than that predicted). In the case of the Slaughter Estate CO2 pilot where the well spacing was only 3 acres, for example, the peak oil rate does not occur until 54% of a pore volume of fluid is injected, i.e., tD3 = 0.54. The red data point in Figure C1 shows the data point for the SEU pilot. Clearly, the data supporting Eqs. (C1) and (C2) is sparse. Additional data would be helpful. However, because the rate history is relatively insensitive to tD3, acquiring more data is not critical. Our findings are qualitatively similar to the results of Bush and Helander who studied waterflooding. They tried to determine the time of the peak oil rate for a waterflood following pressure depletion. They found that the time of the peak oil rate correlated with the time constant and corresponded to a relatively narrow range of dimensionless times. For their study of 86 waterfloods, for instance, they found that the peak oil rate occurred at an average of 0.33 pore volumes of water injected. Model Parameter t4 The time t4 is the termination date. The variable t4 is the elapsed time (t4-t1) from the start of solvent injection until termination. It represents the flood life.
t4 is between 8 and 27 yearsa rather wide range. However, t4 also correlates with the time constant Vp/QT. Figure C2 shows a plot of t4 versus Vp/QT. As expected, t4 increases as Vp/QT increases and QT/Vp decreases. Physically, this relationship shows that the flood life increases as the scaled flood rate decreases. The linear regression y relationship between t3 and Vp/QT is
Vp t 4 = 1.07 Q T + 4.11
(C3)
where t4 and Vp/QT are in years. Equation (C3) a standard error of 0.91 years (11 months) and an average error of 4%. Since Vp/QT is usually known, Eq. (C3) is a way to estimate tD4. Equation (C3) predicts t4 is a sole function of the time constant. This is probably an oversimplification. Other factors, especially economic factors such as operating expenses, will also influence the flood life.
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The flood life can also be described in terms of the pore volumes injected (PVI). The field data shows that the flood life ranges between 1.25 and 1.95 PVI. tD4 is a dimensionless flood life. The dimensionless life of a tertiary miscible flood is about the same as that of a waterflood. For instance, Guerrero and Earlougher (1961) observed that waterflood life usually ranges between 1.25 and 1.7 PVI. The observed rate history is not overly sensitive to tD4 as long as an average value within its range is selected. In many cases, simply selecting t4 based on a value of tD4 = 1.5 is often very reasonable. If this simplified guideline is accepted, then
t 4 =
t D 4 Vp QT
1.5 Vp QT
(C5)
where consistent units are assumed. For example, if Vp [=] rm3 and QT [=] rm3/day (rm3 denotes reservoir m3), then t4 [=] days. Relative to a base case of tD4 = 1.5, for instance, the average error in the yearly oil production over flood life (20 years) was only 0.83% of the injection rate for tD4 = 1.75 and was only 0.98% of the injection rate for tD4 = 1.25 PVI. This case assumed a cumulative recovery of 10% and bEOR = 0. These results show that the error in simply assuming tD4 = 1.5 PVI is reasonably small.
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Model Parameter t2 The time t2 is date of the oil bank breakthrough. The time difference t2 (= t2 - t1) is the time from the start of solvent injection until oil bank breakthrough.
t2 is very shortusually between 1 and 3 months. Expressed as a percentage of the solvent floods life (typically 8-27 years), t2 is relatively insignificant. Therefore, the specific choice of t2 within this range usually makes little difference.
Alternatively, t2 can be expressed terms of pore volumes of fluid injected, tD2. Selecting any value within the range 1 < tD2 < 4% is acceptable and reasonable. This range is an alternative means to estimate t2. Summary The rate model requires estimating three key time parameters: t2, t3, and t4. These parameters can be estimated from the time constant, Vp/QT, which is invariably known or can be estimated. The time parameters can also be estimated from their dimensionless counterparts: tD2, tD3, and tD4. The dimensionless times are observed to fall within a relatively narrow range: 0.01 < tD2 < 0.04, 0.24 < tD3 < 0.28, and 1.25 < tD4 <1.95. Reasonably accurate predictions can be produced if one simply assumes tD2 = 0.02, tD3 = 0.26, and tD4 = 1.5.
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If the reservoir is initially undersaturated, then the initial oil saturation is (1-Swi). The average oil saturation at the end of waterflooding is
S oWF =
(N N )B
pWF
oWF
Vp
(D1)
where (N-NpWF) represents the oil remaining after waterflooding. If Ev is the volumetric efficiency of the EOR process and Som is the remaining or residual oil saturation in the swept zone (see Figure D1), then oil remaining at the end of EOR is
N NpEOR =
Vp B oEOR
[S omE v + S oWF (1 E v )]
(D2)
where the first term in the brackets accounts for the swept zone and second term accounts for the unswept zone. Som is usually estimated from laboratory core tests or is a fitting parameter. The cumulative oil recovery during EOR is
Np = NpEOR NpWF
(D3)
Substituting Eq. (D1) into (D2), and then solving the resulting equation for NpEOR and then substituting the result into Eq. (D3) gives
Np NpWF = 1 N N B oWF B oi S om ( ) 1 1 E Ev v ( ) B B 1 S oEOR oEOR wi
(D4)
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Figure D1. Swept and unswept areas during solvent flooding in a quarter 5-spot pattern.
where Np/N is the cumulative recovery during solvent flooding expressed as a fraction of the OOIP, and we have used NBoi/(1-Swi) to replace Vp. If BoWF = BoEOR, then this equation simplifies to
Np NpWF B oi S om E v = 1 N N B oEOR (1 S wi )
(D5)
(D6)
If NpWF is the hypothetical oil recovery from continued waterflooding, then the fractional incremental oil recovery from solvent flooding is
Np N
Np N
NpWF N
(D7)
The following example illustrates the application of Eqs. (D6) and (D7).
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Example: Estimating the Incremental EOR for Slaughter Estate Unit CO2 Pilot.
Primary recovery and waterflooding recovered 9.4 and 29.9% of the OOIP, respectively, in the SEU pilot. Therefore, NpWF/N = 39.3%. Continued waterflooding was projected to recover an additional 11.2% of the OOIP. Therefore, NpWF/N = 11.2%. The initial water saturation was 9.1%. The operators reported Som = 12% from core tests. If the final areal and vertical sweep efficiencies are 90% and 70%, then Ev = 0.63. To compute the cumulative recovery during CO2 flooding, we apply Eq. (D6):
Np NpWF S om 0.12 (0.63) = 30.0% = 1 Ev = 1 0.393 (1 S wi ) (1 0.091) N N
Np N
Np N
NpWF N
These estimates agree closely with the actual values of 30.8 and 19.6%, respectively.
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Screening Criteria 1. Brashear, J.P. and Kuuskraa, V.A.: The Potential and Economics of Enhanced Oil Recovery, J. Pet. Tech., SPE 06350, (Sept., 1978), 1231.
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2. Goodlett, G.O., Honarpour, F.T., Chung, F.T., Sarathi, P.S.: The Role of Screening and Laboratory Flow Studies in EOR Process Evaluation, SPE 15172, presented at SPE Rocky Mountain Regioinal Meeting, Billings, Montana (1986).
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3. Taber, J.J., Martin, F.D., and Seright, R.S.: EOR Screening Criteria RevisitedPart 1: Introduction to Screening Criteria and Enhanced Recovery Field Projects, SPE Reservoir Engineering, SPE 35385 (August, 1997).
N = denotes that increasing values are better. P = denotes that decreasing values are better.
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4. Klins, M.A.: Carbon Dioxide Flooding, Basic Mechanisms and Project Design, International Human Resources Development Corporation, Boston, MA (1984).
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5. Rivas, O., Embid, S., and Bolivar, F.: Ranking Reservoirs for Carbon Dioxide Flooding Processes, SPE 23641, SPE Advanced Technology Series, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1994).
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6. Mohammed-Singh, P., Singhal, A.K., and Sim, S.: Screening Criteria for Carbon Dioxide Huff n Puff Operations, SPE 100044, presented at the 2006 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery (2006).
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7. Diaz, D., Bassiouni, Z., Kimbrell, W., and Wolcott, J.: Screening Criteria for Application of Carbon Dioxide Miscible Displacement in Waterflooded Reservoirs Containing Light Oil, SPE/DOE 35431, presented 1996 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, OK (1996).
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8. Taber, J.J.. and Martin, F.D.: Technical Screening Guides for the Enhanced Recovery of Oil, SPE 12069, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Francisco, CA (1983).
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9. King, J.E., et al.: The National Petroleum Council EOR Study: Thermal Processes, SPE 13242, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (1984).
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10. Awan, A.R., et al.: EOR Survey in the North Sea, SPE 99546, presented at Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Ok (2006).
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11. Al-Bahar, M.A., et al.: Evaluation Potential of IOR Within Kuwait, SPE 88716, presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (2004).
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Screening Criteria References Al-Bahar, M.A., et al.: Evaluation Potential of IOR Within Kuwait, SPE 88716, presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (2004). Awan, A.R., et al.: EOR Survey in the North Sea, SPE 99546, presented at Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, OK (2006). Brashear, J.P. and Kuuskraa, V.A.: The Potential and Economics of Enhanced Oil Recovery, J. Pet. Tech., SPE 06350, (Sept., 1978), 1231. Diaz, D., Bassiouni, Z., Kimbrell, W., and Wolcott, J.: Screening Criteria for Application of Carbon Dioxide Miscible Displacement in Waterflooded Reservoirs Containing Light Oil, SPE/DOE 35431, presented 1996 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, OK (1996). Goodlett, G.O., Honarpour, F.T., Chung, F.T., Sarathi, P.S.: The Role of Screening and Laboratory Flow Studies in EOR Process Evaluation, SPE 15172, presented at SPE Rocky Mountain Regioinal Meeting, Billings, Montana (1986). King, J.E., et al.: The National Petroleum Council EOR Study: Thermal Processes, SPE 13242, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (1984). Klins, M.A.: Carbon Dioxide Flooding, Basic Mechanisms and Project Design, International Human Resources Development Corporation, Boston, MA (1984). Mohammed-Singh, P., Singhal, A.K., and Sim, S.: Screening Criteria for Carbon Dioxide Huff n Puff Operations, SPE 100044, presented at the 2006 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery (2006). Rivas, O., Embid, S., and Bolivar, F.: Ranking Reservoirs for Carbon Dioxide Flooding Processes, SPE 23641, SPE Advanced Technology Series, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1994). Taber, J.J., Martin, F.D., and Seright, R.S.: EOR Screening Criteria RevisitedPart 1: Introduction to Screening Criteria and Enhanced Recovery Field Projects, SPE Reservoir Engineering, SPE 35385 (August, 1997). Taber, J.J.. and Martin, F.D.: Technical Screening Guides for the Enhanced Recovery of Oil, SPE 12069, presented at the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Francisco, CA (1983).
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